LAHORE - Like other parts of the country, Lahore remained in the grip of sultry weather yesterday with large scale load shedding and water shortage adding to the woes of heat stricken people.

Experts have forecast the prevailing harsh weather conditions to persist during the next couple of days.

Lack of rains, winds and abundance of sunshine caused considerable increase in temperature with high humidity making the weather sultry, causing people to sweat profusely at noon and in the afternoon. Maximum and minimum temperature was recorded 39 degree Celsius and 26C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 49 percent.

People avoided unnecessarily coming out, decreasing traffic on otherwise busy roads at noon and in the afternoon. Lahore canal as usual attracted large number of people including women and children.

According to the experts, seasonal low lies over northern Balochistan and adjoining areas with trough extending south-eastward. Weak moist currents are penetrating Kashmir and adjoining areas. A shallow westerly wave is also affecting northern areas of the country.

Meteorological department has forecast mainly hot and dry weather for most parts of the country during the next couple of days.

However, rain-thundershower with gusty winds is expected at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Islamabad, FATA and Kashmir.