ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP): A fresh wave of cold and dry weather is set to envelop most parts of the country on Friday, with very cold conditions expected to intensify in hilly regions during the morning and night hours, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The Met Office reported that a cold and stable air mass continues to dominate the northern and central regions, keeping skies largely clear and allowing temperatures to drop significantly during night-time.
While most areas will remain dry, Gilgit-Baltistan may experience partly cloudy conditions with light rain or snowfall at isolated locations, particularly in higher mountain passes.
In the federal capital, Islamabad, the weather will stay cold and dry throughout the day, with chilly winds adding to the overall cold feel during the evening and night.
Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the cold and dry pattern will persist, with hilly districts expected to remain very cold, especially around early morning hours. Light patches of shallow fog may develop in parts of Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, and Dera Ismail Khan, reducing visibility temporarily.
In Punjab, the cold and dry weather will dominate from north to south. The upper regions, including Murree and Galliyat, are expected to remain cold throughout the day.
Meanwhile, smog and shallow fog are likely to continue affecting major urban centres such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Multan, particularly during morning and night, causing reduced visibility and air quality concerns.
Sindh will remain under the influence of dry continental winds, keeping the weather dry across the province, while Balochistan will experience chilly days and cold nights under clear skies.
In Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the weather will stay cold to very cold, with temperatures dropping sharply after sunset. Light snowfall is possible in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, which may momentarily disrupt travel in mountainous terrain.
During the past 24 hours, most parts of the country experienced dry weather, while hilly areas remained cold to very cold.
Smog and shallow fog persisted in several plains of Punjab and KP, slightly hampering visibility during early morning hours.
The lowest minimum temperatures recorded were Skardu -06 C, Leh -04, Gilgit -03, Babusar -03, Gupis -03C.