LAHORE: Temperatures are low in the country for the past three days due to a westerly wave and are expected to remain so in the next week thanks to another such weather system, according to the Met department on Sunday.

Temperatures had started rising slightly above their normal limits for May soon after the beginning of Ramazan. But they dropped a little bit on Friday as most parts of the country received windstorm and rain.

The situation remained the same in most parts of the country on Sunday. The maximum temperature in Lahore was 39 degrees C, slightly above the one recorded on Saturday. But it was tolerable for the fasting people who had braved above 40 degrees C early this week.

The Met department said temperatures would remain three to five degrees C below their normal value again during the next week. It reported that weather remained hot and dry in most parts of the country, while very hot in south Punjab and Sindh. However, dust-thunderstorm/rain occurred at scattered places in DG Khan, Bahawalpur and Malakand.

Bagrote received 13mm of rain, Gilgit, Bunji, Astore 1, Parachinar 6, Dir, Balakot 3, DI Khan, 1, DG Khan, 4, Bahawalpur, Khanpur, 2, Jhang, Layyah, 1, Lasbella, 4, and Barkhan 3.

The highest maximum temperature of 43 degrees C was recorded in Sakrand. It was followed by Bhakkar, Turbat, Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad (42).

The Met department forecast mainly hot and dry weather in most parts of the country, while very hot in south Punjab and Sindh in the next 24 hours (Monday). However, dust-thunderstorm/rain is expected at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Makran, Bannu, DI Khan, Hazara, Sukkur divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2019