LAHORE -  Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country for at least one week after short rain spell.

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.

Meteorologist Muhammad Ajmal Shahid 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 24th November, 2017, 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.

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.