RAWALPINDI: The twin cities saw rainfall and a hailstorm that settled dust and brought relief to residents suffering allergies or the flu on Thursday, but created problems for farmers in the Potohar region.

Dense clouds and strong winds were witnessed in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Wednesday, but the rain started midnight and continued until Thursday evening with short breaks.

The Met Office has predicted clear weather from Friday, although light rainfall is expected in a few places in northwest Punjab in the morning. Mainly dry weather is expected in most of the country, and cold weather in the north.

In Rawalpindi, 32 millimetres of rain was recorded in Chaklala and 26mm in Shamsabad, while 29mm was recorded at Zero Point, 16mm in Saidpur, 8mm in Bokra, 7mm at Islamabad International Airport and 3mm in Golra in Islamabad.

Met Office spokesperson Rashid Bilal told Dawn this was a routine weather system for winter in February. However, he said, the rise in temperature is unusual as this increase is usually seen at the end of March.

He said that temperatures will rise further during the day after this day’s break. However, a new system bringing rain will enter the region by the end of February and the first week of March.

“When it rains, allergy cases usually decrease because the rain settles the dust and cleans the atmosphere,” Dr Azeem Ahmed from the Benazir Bhutto Hospital said. He added that viral infections would also decrease.

However, he said allergy patients should avoid wind, which carries dust and pollen.

The rain caused problems for farmers on the outskirts of the twin cities.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2020