LAHORE- Parts of the country remained in the grip of muggy weather on Friday with experts predicting the prevailing harsh weather conditions to persist during the next couple of days.
Frequent tripping and unscheduled load shedding added to the woes of heat stricken people.
Weather remained hot and humid in most parts of the country. However, rain-thundershower associated with gusty winds occurred at scattered places in Rawalpindi, Lahore, D G Khan, Bahawalpur, Malakand, Hazara divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Dadu and Rohri remained hottest places in the country where mercury rose as high as 43 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature in Shaheed Benazirabad, Moenjodaro, Sukku, and Padidan was recorded 42 C, Rahim Yar Khan, Jaccobabad and Larkana 41 C.
In Lahore, maximum and minimum temperature was recorded 38 C and 24 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 42 per cent. People avoided unnecessarily coming out, decreasing traffic on otherwise busy roads at noon and in the afternoon. Lahore canal, as usual, attracted a large number of people including women and children. Not only youth but also elderly people were seen taking bath in the canal water. At certain places, even women were seen beating the heat by taking a dip in the mud coloured water. According to the experts, seasonal low lies over North Baluchistan with its trough extending south-eastward. Light to moderate monsoon currents from Arabian Sea are penetrating into central/upper parts of the country and Kashmir and likely to weaken during next 24 hours. A shallow westerly wave is present over northern parts of the country.
Local meteorological department has forecast mainly hot and humid weather for most parts of the country during the next couple of days. However, isolated rain-thundershowers are expected in Kashmir, Khyber PK, Islamabad, upper Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan during evening/night.