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LAHORE, June 11: Haze with dust suspension lowered the maximum temperatures in the city and other areas in the central and northern parts of Punjab, but high degree of humidity continued to spell intense heat on Monday.
The maximum temperature was recorded by the local Met office at 45 Celsius, three degrees lower than the past two days (48). However, the night temperature remained unaffected at 30 Celsius which had made the life miserable for the people who are also facing frequent power suspension. The humidity in Lahore was as high as 49 per cent in the morning which came down to 23 per cent by 5pm.
The Lahore Met office, however, says the country continues to be in the grip of an intense heatwave which caused the maximum temperatures in Jacobabad and Sibi to reach more than 50 C, 49.5 in both Larkana and Nawabshah and Sukkur 49 C.
A hazy sky was caused by a low pressure over Balochistan and adjoining areas. But since its intensity is moderate, it has not been able to make a soothing impact over the heatwave. The low trough rather got moisture from the Arabia Sea and together with suspended dust it added humidity to the intense weather.
The Met office has forecast a continued hot and dry weather for another few days. An officer says there is no chance of a respite till June 15 in the absence of a westerly system or the low trough over Balochistan gaining required intensity.
The hottest cities in Punjab were Minawali with a maximum temperature of 47.6 C and Sargodha where it was 47 C. The intensity of hot weather persisted in south Punjab with Rahim Yar Khan recording the temperature at 46.5 C followed by Khanpur with 45.3 C, Multan with 44.7 C, Bahawalpur with 44.5 C, Bahawlnagar with 44.4 C and Dera Ghazi Khan 42.7 C.
The maximum temperatures in central and northern Punjab cities were lower than Sunday; still Mandi Bahauddin and Jhelum recorded a maximum temperature at 45.5 C each, Okara 42.5 C, Sahiwal 42.5 C and Faisalabad 41.5 C.
As for the NWFP, Peshawar recorded 47 C as the maximum temperature and Bannu 48.2 C. In Quetta, the maximum temperature was recorded at 39.5 C.
MONSOON: The local Met office says monsoon has developed in the Bay of Bengal and has already caused rains in Bangladesh and some coastal cities in India, including Mumbai and Malabar.
However, the office says the monsoon current is still weak and has been traveling northwards with a lower intensity. But the wave is expected to intensify this week and some of its impact may be felt in this part of the world by mid June.
