A severe cold wave continues to grip the country, with intense cold in the hilly areas and dense fog in the plains. In the next 24 hours, the weather is expected to remain cold and dry. Gilgit has broken a 10-year record for cold temperatures, with visibility almost negligible due to thick fog in many regions.
According to the Meteorological Department’s spokesperson, the weather in Islamabad and its surrounding areas is expected to remain cold and dry. In Murree, Galyat, and nearby areas, extreme cold is predicted. Cities in Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sargodha, may experience dense fog and smog, with similar conditions expected in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Swabi, Mardan, Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat. Sukkur, Benazirabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, and Khairpur are also likely to experience heavy fog and smog.
In the upper regions of Balochistan, the weather is expected to remain extremely cold. Dense fog and smog are expected to prevail in Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Narowal, Gujranwala, and Mangla. Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad are also expected to experience similar conditions.
The Met Office also forecasts that areas like Jhang, Okara, and Multan will see heavy fog and smog, while Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, and Dera Ghazi Khan are likely to experience similar weather conditions.
In Gilgit, a 10-year record for cold temperatures has been broken, with temperatures this year dropping as low as minus 8°C. Ten years ago, the temperature had reached a minimum of minus 3°C. The average temperature in Skardu has dropped to 11°C below freezing, marking a significant drop compared to 8°C in the past decade. The intensity of the cold is expected to increase further.
