LAHORE, April 15: Light rain in Lahore and elsewhere in the Punjab, the NWFP and the Northern Areas on Tuesday broke the week-long spell of hot and dry weather.

Maximum temperature in many cities dropped to several degrees and the Met office expected light rain in the plains of the Punjab, the NWFP and the Northern areas in the next 24 hours. Rain was heavy in Kalam (41mm) and other adjoining towns. It was caused by a westerly system whose impact extended to the Punjab.

In Lahore, it remained partly cloudy most of the day. Dark clouds which were coupled with strong winds —- 33kms per hour —- enveloped the city at around 4pm.

Though it did not rain throughout the city, the impact of the rain was felt everywhere. The wind was pleasant and strong and it swept away the heat of the blazing sun earlier in the day.

The day’s maximum temperature dropped from Monday’s 36.8 degrees C to 34.4 degrees C. It was 38 degrees C on Sunday. The minimum temperature was 23.7 degrees C which the Met office expected to drop during the night.

According to the Met office, Kakul received 15mm of rain, Dir 15mm, Malam Jabba 14mm, Peshawar 13mm, Balakot and Garhi Dupatta 11mm, Quetta 10mm, Muzaffarabad and Saidu Sharif 9mm, Parachinar 8mm, Murree 6mm, Astore 5mm, Darosh 4, Gilgit 1, and Multan, Sargodha, Islamabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Mandi Bahauddin, Skardu and Shorkot trace.

It reported that rain dropped maximum temperature in many cities. They included Rahim Yar Khan 39 degrees C, Jhelum 32, Multan 29.8, Bahawalpur 34.5, Khanpur 36.5, Islamabad 26.5, Faisalabad 31.5, Sargodha 30, Peshawar 24, Bahawalnagar 37.2, Dera Ghazi Khan 30.5 and Mandi Bahauddin 31.5 degrees C.

The Met office expected more rain in many cities of the Punjab, including Lahore, the NWFP and the Northern Areas in the next 24 hours. — Staff Reporter