The first spring rain accompanied by hail turned the weather pleasant in Lahore and several other parts of Punjab, bringing back a chill and making the holy month of Ramadan noticeably cooler.According to the report, heavy rain with strong winds and thunder was reported in several cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Muridke, Pindi Bhattian, Gujranwala, Lala Musa, Kharian, Talagang, Narowal, Shakargarh, Nowshera Virkan and Khanqah Dogran. Lahore also received hail along with intense rainfall, while light drizzle continued during the night.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, more rain is expected in the next 24 hours. The minimum temperature in Lahore City was recorded at 21°C, while the maximum reached 30°C. Winds were blowing at around 13 kilometres per hour, and humidity was measured at 70%, while the sky remained partly cloudy. In the federal capital Islamabad, rain in various sectors and surrounding areas caused temperatures to drop, with the morning temperature falling to around 13°C. 

The Met Office predicted that intermittent rain may continue throughout the day, while the daytime temperature could rise to about 26°C. In Rawalpindi, light to moderate rainfall made the weather pleasant and broke the intensity of the heat. Rainfall measurements included 8 millimetres at Saidpur Village, 7 mm (millimetre) at Katariyan, 6 mm at Chaklala, 5 mm at Bogra, 4 mm at Shamsabad and 2 mm at Pirwadhai. 

Rain continued in Muridke and surrounding areas, bringing a fresh wave of cold weather and turning Ramadan cooler. In Pindi Bhattian and nearby areas, rainfall restored the departing winter chill, while heavy showers in Talagang brought relief to residents. Light drizzle made the weather colder in Lala Musa, while Kharian experienced drizzle accompanied by strong winds. Thunderstorms were reported in Khanqah Dogran and surrounding areas.

In Shakargarh, including Noor Kot and Kartarpur, light rain and cool winds further improved the weather conditions. Rain also made the weather pleasant in Gujranwala, though electricity outages were reported in several parts of the city due to the rainfall. Light showers with thunder were recorded in Narowal, while Nowshera Virkan and surrounding areas also received rain accompanied by lightning. Meanwhile, in Khyber District, heavy overnight rainfall in the plains of Jamrud and Bara as well as the mountainous areas of the Tirah Valley brought colder conditions once again.

The continuous rain also increased water flow in local streams and channels, while clouds still covered the sky in the region. In contrast, the weather in Karachi remained partly cloudy with no immediate chances of rain. According to the Met Office, dry and warm conditions are expected during the day, with temperatures likely to rise to around 37°C under bright sunshine. Humidity levels in the city were recorded at around 85%.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)