LAHORE, July 21: The spell of monsoon rains almost broke on Sunday due to the departure of the vital westerly wave and weakening of the moist current.

The westerly wave and a strong moist current from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal generated torrential rain in the upper parts of the country and northeastern Punjab on Saturday, swelling storm water drains in the Sialkot region.

It was heavily overcast in Lahore and several other cities on Saturday night, making the Met Office forecast more rain. But the departure of the westerly wave which was persisting over the northern areas for the past few days weakened the rain generating system.

No or less rain prevented high flood in the rivers Jhelum and Chenab. Low flood was, however, reported in the Chenab at Khanki.

The embankment of the flooded Dek nullah breached at Nathranwali, Kamonke, submerging paddy crop over hundreds of acres of land. Local administration and people were trying to plug the breach.

Meanwhile, the Met Office said a fresh westerly wave was approaching Pakistan from Afghanistan. Moist current from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal was also penetrating into central parts of the country up to 5,000 feet. Therefore, there could be some more rain after two to three days.

It forecast scattered thunderstorm/rain with isolated moderate falls over Southern Punjab (DG Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal divisions), Northeastern Balochistan and Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the next 24 hours.

Isolated thunderstorm/rain was also likely to occur over Kashmir, Islamabad, Northern Punjab, Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sukkur division.