The Shanghai Meteorological center has issued a red level rainstorm alert - its highest warning level. Traffic has been severely affected on many roads.
Officials say the city's downtown area along with Minhang, Songjiang and Pudong districts have already seen rainfall of more than 100 milimeters. This is the first red level alert since 2009.
Earlier in the day, the Shanghai Meteorological center separately issued yellow and orange level alerts for the rainstorm. The alert was then changed to the highest level at around 5pm.