LAHORE: Partial rain and strong wind that continued to blow afterwards provided timely relief to people in Lahore against the persistent energy-sapping sultry weather on Friday.

And the relief came ahead of a three-day spell of widespread rain starting in Pakistan from Saturday. Lahore too is expected to receive rain, heavy at times, during the spell to be generated by a westerly wave and accentuated incursion of moisture from the Bay of Bengal.

The rain lashed eastern sides of the city and areas around the airport whereas it remained dry in the rest of the city.

It was an immediate relief for the residents of these localities. And wind extended it to the rest of the city, averting an unbearable muggy weather that could have otherwise been created by the extra humidity generated by rain.

The maximum temperature was 39 degrees Celsius as against 41 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

The Met department said it remained hot and humid in most parts of the country. However, rain-thundershower occurred at one or two places in Malakand, Gujranwala divisions, Fata and Kashmir.

Kotli received 21mm rain, Muzaffarabad 16, Rawalakot 13, Sialkot 21, Gujrat 12, Parachinar 3 and Dir 1mm.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2016