LAHORE: Temperatures in the country, especially in plains, sharply rose on Tuesday, with the Met office expecting upward trend in the coming days.

The rise in the temperature followed pleasantly cold weather in the plain areas and almost winter-like conditions over the hills only four days ago.

The pleasant interlude in the beginning of the long summer in Pakistan was caused by a westerly wave that generated rain in the plains and snow over the hills on April 21. Lahore had recorded a maximum of 27 degrees Celsius temperature as against its normal 34 degrees Celsius of the month. Murree’s maximum temperature was 7.2 degrees Celsius as against its normal 24 degrees Celsius.

The Met department said temperatures were bound to rise further in the coming days because of clear weather.

The maximum temperature in Lahore and other cities was the highest so far of the season. Lahore, Sargodha and Faisalabad recorded 40 degrees Celsius, Multan 42, Dera Ismail Khan 41, Hyderabad 43, and Murree 24.

The highest temperature, 45 degrees Celsius, in the country was recorded in Padidan, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Sukkur and Moenjodaro. It will remain mainly dry in most parts of the country in the next 24 hours. Temperatures will further rise in central and southern parts of the country. However, light rain-thunderstorm is expected at few places in upper Fata and Malakand division.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2018