RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain and gusty winds in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday evening brought a pleasant change in the weather, breaking the spell of hot and humid conditions over the last two days.

Heavy clouds overshadowed the sun in the twin cities in the evening and heavy rains and gusty winds lashed various areas starting at 6:50pm and continuing into the night.

The cool winds brought a pleasant change in the weather and the temperature dropped to 29 degrees Celsius.

Over the last two days, daytime temperatures had swelled to 37 to 38 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office recorded 21 millimetres of rain at Zero Point, 18 mm at Saidpur 11, 15 mm at Golra, 1 mm at Bokra in Islamabad, while 9 mm of rain was recorded at Katcheri, Chaklala and Shamsabad in Rawalpindi.

A Met Office official said that a shallow trough of west-erly wave is affecting northern and central parts of the country.

Moist currents from the Arabian Sea are also penetrating the central and upper parts.

He said that hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, he added, partly cloudy weather with rain, dust/windstorm and thunderstorms is expected at isolated places in upper/central Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Moderate to heavy rain/hail may also occur at isolated places.

He warned that wind, dustthunderstorms, hailstorms and lightning may damage loose structures like electric poles, trees,vehicles and solar panels during today (evening/night) and on May 12.

The Met Office also recorded Sunday`s highest maximum temperatures at Jacobabad, Mohenjodaro and Dadu at 46 degrees Celsius, and at Sibi and Rahim Yar Khan at 45 degrees Celsius.