LAHORE, May 17: Rain and windstorm in many cities, including Lahore, on Tuesday night broke the long spell of hot and humid weather, dropping maximum temperatures below 40 degrees C all over the Punjab on Wednesday.

The change in the weather had been brought about by a westerly system that gave rain in Punjab, the NWFP and the Northern Areas during the past 24 hours, dropping high temperatures almost all over the country, the local Met office said.

It said the weather was humid due to winds from the Arabian Sea because of the high temperatures, especially in Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab, creating a low pressure over the region. The weather pattern was creating a great deal of inconvenience for the people but the spell was broken after the arrival of a westerly system, the Met office reported.

The maximum temperature in Lahore dropped from Tuesday’s 42 degrees C to 34.2 degrees C, providing a relief to people after many days.

Wind was a bit cold in the morning and people switched off their airconditioners and desert coolers.

The minimum temperature was 20 degrees C with 64 per cent humidity in the morning and 32 per cent in the afternoon.

The Met office recorded 9.4mm of rain at its Jail Road office and 6mm at the airport. It reported that Islamabad airport received 18mm of rain, Murree, Jhelum and Sargodha 20mm each, Sialkot 7.4mm, Faisalabad and Dera Ghazi Khan traces, Malam Jabba 25.3mm, Kalam 16mm, Peshawar 6mm, Risalpur 4mm, Saidu Sharif 1.5mm, Kohat 1mm, Muzaffarabad 41mm, Kotli 20.2mm, Zhob 16mm, and Chillas 1mm.

The Met office expected chances of thunderstorm in many cities of the province, including Lahore, during the next 24 hours because of what it said the presence of a low pressure area over Balochistan and adjoining areas and the impact of the westerly system.