LAHORE:  Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country for at least one week after the short rain spell, which brought relief to the people of Punjab from smog that was causing health issues and had made the lives of people miserable.   

According to Meteorological Department rain thunderstorm with light snowfall over the hills is expected at a few places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi divisions, Upper FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit- Baltistan.

Foggy conditions are likely to prevail at some places in southern & central parts of Punjab during morning hours.

In last 24 hours, rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills occurred at scattered places in Rawalpindi, Zhob divisions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Islamabad and Kashmir and at isolated places in Lahore division.

Lowest temperature recorded in Kalat -04°C, Skardu -02°C, Quetta, Malamjabba -01°C, Kalam 00°C.

In last 24 hours temperature recorded: Balakot, Kakul, Saidu Sharif 07, Dir, Malamjabba, Parachinar 05, Peshawar 04, Bannu 03, Lower Dir, Risalpur, Kalam, Drosh 02, Mirkhani, Chitral 01. Punjab: Islamabad (Golra, Z.P 09, Bokra 12, Saidpur 06), Rawalpindi (Shamsabad, Chaklala 07), Kasur 05, Lahore (Airport 04, City 03), Chakwal 02. Balochistan: Zhob 10, Kashmir: Muzaffarabad 08, Rawalakot 06, Gari Dupatta 04.

Muhammad Ajmal Shahid, meteorologist, told The Nation that the rain spell in Punjab is almost over and dry weather with strong winds will persist in coming days and this will continue for at least one week.

Answering a query with regard to smog which had made the lives of people miserable, he said the dust particles are still in the air and this could make the smog return again, but right now there are no such chances.

The index of Air Quality has improved in Lahore and elsewhere in Punjab after the recent rain spell. 

“In December more foggy conditions will persist as there will be 100 percent moisture in which smoggy conditions cannot prevail or become not very dangerous,” he said.

The rain is not expected till November 24, Ajmal said.

Dr Hamza Jamshed advised the citizens to avoid the dry weather in which chances of flu are higher and people may catch cold if careless attitude is adopted.

While National Agromet Centre in their last advisory report stated that farmers are advised to schedule the irrigation plans in accordance with the expected weather, mentioned in the report.

Removing weeds from the standing crops is very important as weeds utilize moisture and food which are to be utilized by the crop. As a result considerable loss in yield occurs every year, the report said.