TEHRAN The unexpected rain that started on Tuesday in Gilan Province has cheered up farmers, gardeners and people in general.

Gilani farmers who suffered great losses last year due to the drought, regard the rain as a good omen and are performing thanksgiving prayers.

The Director of the Gilan Meteorological Office said on Wednesday that in recent hours a considerable amount of rain has fallen, especially in the province's heights, and that this will definitely help provide the water needed for irrigation as well as drinking.

He added that in the last 24 hours 12-20mm of rain has fallen in different parts of the province.

Meanwhile, Mohammadreza Taherzadeh, the director of the provincial Agriculture Jihad Office, pointed to the fact that the recent rains in the region have provided the necessary amount of water needed for the rice fields.

Gilan province needs almost 2.8 billion cubic meters of water annually for irrigation.

There is good news from Kurdestan, too. The people there are enjoying spring-like weather after a cold air front cooled the province 4 to 7 degrees centigrade. The province has also experienced scattered showers.

The director of the Meteorological Office of Kurdestan has added that the cool weather will continue until Thursday, when gradually the temperature will increase again.