LAHORE, May 26: A mild dust storm followed by soothing wind finally rid the people of the prolonged heat wave here on Sunday evening.

The dust storm having a velocity of 56km per hour was generated by a westerly wave that gave considerable rain over the upper parts of the country.

Chief Meteorologist Riaz Khan said there was a possibility of light rain in the city on Monday morning which would keep temperatures low till Tuesday. Afterwards temperatures would begin to rise again, he added.

It was very hot earlier in the day as the maximum temperature went up to 44 degrees C. Gusty winds too were hot, giving the city roads a deserted look.

A record number of people thronged the city canal to beat the heat. A couple of private water parks too drew rush.

Crowds were also witnessed in the city parks after the soothing wind improved weather in the evening.

Though the westerly system made weather pleasant in the upper parts of the country, the cities in the plain areas continued to reel under persistent heat wave.

The highest maximum temperature was recorded in Dadu at 48.4 degreed C.

Astore received 75mm of rain, Kakul 53mm, Muzaffarabad 39mm, Bunji 36mm, Balakot 35mm, Chillas 30mm, Murree 27mm, Gilgit 24mm, Skardu 21mm, Rawlakot 16mm, Malamjabba 15mm, Saidu Sharif 12mm, and Jhelum 10mm.

The Met Office forecast fairly widespread thunderstorm/rain with gusty winds over Malakand, Peshawar, Mardan, Hazara, and Rawalpindi divisions, besides Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, in the next 24 hours.

There were chances of scattered dust, thunderstorm/rain over Gujranwala, Sargodha and Lahore divisions.