LAHORE, Sept 25: Rain in many cities in the Punjab, the NWFP and northern areas made weather pleasant on Thursday, bringing the feel of the winter season.

The rain was generated by a strong and fast-moving westerly system, which rid the people of humid conditions persisting for the past one week or so, especially in the plains of the Punjab.

In Lahore, light rain and wind brought the maximum temperature down from Wednesday’s 33.1 degrees Celsius to 28.8 degrees Celsius. It was 88 per cent humidity in the morning and 65 per cent in the evening.

Showers began to fall around 9am after dark clouds covered the city. The rain ended after some time, but its impact was felt throughout the day.

According to Chief Meteorologist Shaukat Ali Awan, temperature would not rise because the rains would continue for at least two weeks after which winter would set in.

The Flood Forecasting Division has, in the meantime, predicted widespread light to moderate rain over northern NWFP, upper Punjab, Kashmir and northern areas during the next 24 hours.

From 8am on Wednesday to 8am on Thursday, Oghi received 74mm rain, Shinkiari and Bhesham 67mm each, Islamabad (Shamshabad 65mm, airport 41mm, Dhamial 37mm, Saidpur 20mm and Zero Point 13mm), Peshawar (airport 65mm and city 18mm), Domel 52mm, Balakot 51mm and Murree and Muzaffarabad 49mm each.

It rained 47mm in Kakul, 45mm in Tarbela, 37mm in Dir, 36mm in Dera Ismail Khan, 35mm in Rawlakot, 32mm each in Jhelum and Sialkot, 31mm in Garhidupatta, 30mm in Kalam, 28mm in Marala, 24mm in Kotli, 23mm in Saidu Sharif and 11mm in Malamjabba.

Between 8am and 5pm on Thursday, Mandi Bahauddin received 62mm rain, Sialkot 41mm, Jhelum 18mm, Islamabad 15mm, Astore and Kotli 9mm each, Muzaffarabad 5mm, Dir and Kakul 4mm each, Sargodha 3mm, and Lahore received 1mm rain.