LAHORE - Parts of the country received scattered rains, snowfall over the hills on Thursday with experts predicting the prevailing conditions to persist during the next couple of days.
Overcast conditions, rains and snowfall increased the intensity of cold wave by causing considerable decrease in temperature during the day and at nighttime.
Widespread rain (with snow over the hills) occurred in KP, upper/central Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while at scattered places in South Punjab and northeast Balochistan.
Kalam remained coldest places in the country where mercury dropped to -07 degree Celsius below freezing point. Mercury dropped to -05 C in Astore and Kalat.
Maximum and minimum temperature in Lahore was recorded 16 C and 09 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 84 per cent.
According to the experts, westerly trough is affecting upper and central parts of the country and likely to move eastward during next 24 hours.
The Meteorological department has forecast widespread rain (snowfall over the hills) at Islamabad, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions), upper KP (Malakand, Hazara divisions), Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. While rain is expected at isolated places in Peshawar, Sargodha and Faisalabad divisions. On Thursday, Garidupatta received 30mm rain, Bannu 28mm, Dir 27mm, Khuzdar 25mm, Kalat 22mm, Multan and DIK 21mm each, Muzaffarabad 20mm, Zhob 19mm, Lower Dir 17mm, Barkhan 14mm, Balakot 13mm, Islamabad, Mianwali and Sargodha 12 mm each.
Snowfall: Parachinar 1.5ft, Murree, Dir, Saidu Sharif 1ft.