LAHORE: The country is likely to face a decrease in temperature as scattered rains and snowfall over hills is likely to increase the intensity of cold wave during the next week.
A fresh westerly wave is likely to enter Pakistan on Sunday and may persist over upper and central parts until Wednesday. The weather system will produce rain with snowfall over the hills from Sunday to Wednesday.
Rain/thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in Northeast Balochistan and Sindh on Sunday and Monday. Rain/thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected at isolated places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA from Sunday to Tuesday. Rain/thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected at scattered places in Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from Monday to Wednesday. Snowfall is also expected in Murree and Galliyat on Monday/Tuesday.
The weather remained cold and dry in most parts of the country including Lahore on Saturday.
Skardu, Gilgit and Kalat remained coldest places in the country where mercury dropped 04 degree Celsius below the freezing point. The minimum temperature in Gupis was recorded -03C, Quetta, Dalbandin, Astore, Hunza, Parachinar and Dir -02C and Kalam -01C. The maximum and minimum temperature in Lahore was recorded 26C and 07C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 36 per cent.
Excessive use of heaters at offices and homes led to low gas pressure in major cities including Lahore. In certain areas, women faced huge difficulties in cooking meals for families.