Rain and hail bring temporary relief to Lahore amid heatwave

LAHORE: Heavy rain and hail hit Lahore on Wednesday, bringing down temperatures and offering residents a break from the prevailing heatwave.

Several parts of the city, including Mall Road, Jail Road and Gulberg, received heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, which made the weather cooler and more pleasant.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s weather monitoring report issued at 3:30pm, Lahore City recorded 24 millimetres of rainfall over the previous 24 hours, while Lahore Airport received 19mm. The department said the minimum temperature in Lahore was expected to remain around 26 degrees Celsius.

The PMD said the weather system behind the rain was relatively weak and that the cloud cover was likely to clear soon. Officials of the department also warned that hot conditions were expected to continue after the current high-pressure system weakens.

Meanwhile, on the directions of the Water and Sewerage Authority managing director, operational teams were asked to stay alert in the field to ensure prompt drainage of accumulated rainwater and to avoid urban flooding in low-lying localities.

Punjab forecast

On its website, the PMD said mainly hot and dry weather was expected in most districts of Punjab tonight. However, partly cloudy conditions were likely in Murree, Galiyat and the Pothohar region.

The department said some southern districts were likely to receive scattered dust-raising winds and thunderstorms, including Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Kot Addu, Narowal, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and the Lahore region.

For Thursday, the PMD forecast largely similar conditions across the province, with hot and dry weather expected during the day in most areas.

It said Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Kot Addu and DG Khan were likely to see relatively lower temperatures because of expected rain and thunderstorms. Murree and Galiyat were also expected to remain partly cloudy during the evening and night.

The rainfall in Lahore came as residents faced intense heat, with the change in weather briefly easing conditions in the provincial capital. The PMD, however, indicated that the relief may be short-lived as the broader pattern of hot weather is likely to persist.