LAHORE: Temperatures crossed or reached near their highest-ever maximum limits in Sindh and south Punjab as the heat wave currently gripping the country further intensined on Wednesday, creating weather conditions beyond human tolerance level.

Successive westerly waves had been keeping temperatures low in the country until last week. The heat wave began on Tuesday after temperatures shot up due to clear skies. Larkana was the hottest city in the country with 52 degrees C maximum temperature which was just .7 degree C short of its highestever maximum temperature.

Five Sindh and one Balochistan cities recorded 51 degrees C maximum temperature. It was record breaking for Sukkur where previous highest ever maximum temperature (50.5) was recorded on May 27, 2010. The other cities included Dadu, Moenjodaro, Jacobabad, Padidan, and Sibbi. Their highest-ever maximum temperatures were above 52 degrees C. Rahim Yar Khan`s maximum 50 degrees C equaled its highest-ever temperature.

The maximum temperature of Rohri, Turbat, Hyderabad,Mitthi,Khanpur and Bhakkar was 49 degrees C. It equaled the highestever maximum temperature of Khanpur and Bhakkar.

The maximum temperature of Noorpur Thal, Kot Addu, Bahawalnagar and Shaheed Benazirabad was 48 degrees C. The maximum temperature in Lahore rose from Tuesday`s 44 degrees C to 46 degrees C, badly affecting life especially in view of repeated powerloadshedding.

The Met department said severe weather conditions would continue to persist for some more days particularly over plain areas of Punjab, KP, Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Benazirabad divisions), Sibbi and Makran divisions.

Meanwhile, warm weather over the mountainous region has accelerated melting of snow and glaciers.-INTIKHABHANIF