LAHORE, May 17: The first heat wave of the current summer gripped the plains of the country on Friday, shooting up temperatures to unbearable limits in some Sindh cities.

It was the hottest day so far of the summer in Lahore, recording a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius. It is expected to rise up to 45 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

The Met Office expects the heat wave to further intensify and persist for at least three to four days. The heat wave is generating scorching heat in the plains of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab.

Sindh was nevertheless the most affected on Friday. The hottest place in the country was Larkana where the maximum temperature was 50.5 degrees Celsius.

This was followed by 50 degrees Celsius in Jacobabad, 49.5 degrees Celsius in Moenjodero, 48.3 degrees Celsius in Dadu, 48 degrees Celsius in Sukkur, Rohri and Mithi and 47.5 degrees Celsius in Padidan.

The maximum temperature in Punjab was recorded in Rahim Yar Khan that was 47.8 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Bhakkar was 46.5 degrees Celsius, in Khanpur 46.2 degrees Celsius and in Bahawalpur 46 degrees Celsius.