LAHORE - Parts of the country received rainfall of varying intensities and snowfall over the hills on Monday evening, increasing the intensity of prevailing cold wave by causing further decrease in the mercury level. Experts are seeing further increase in the intensity of cold wave as more rains and snowfall is expected on Tuesday (today).
Country remained in the grip of severe cold wave with frequent outages and low gas pressure adding to the woes of cold stricken people.
Kalat remained coldest place in the country where mercury dropped 15 degree Celsius below freezing point. Mercury dropped to -13 C in Quetta, -12 C in Skardu, -10 C in Parachinar, -07 C in Astore and Gupis, -06 C in Malamjabba, Drosh and Murree and -05 C in Gilgit.
Maximum and temperature in Lahore was recorded 18 C and 02 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 49 per cent.
Harsh weather conditions forced the people to stay indoors wrapped in woolies and blankets to keep their bodies warm. Excessive usage of heaters at offices and homes led to low gas pressure. Women faced huge difficulties in cooking meals for their families.
According to the experts, a westerly wave is prevailing over upper parts of the county and expected to persist during next 24 hours.
Local meteorological department has forecast cloudy weather with chances of rain (light snowfall over the hills) at scattered places of Lahore, Gujranwala, Hazara divisions and Kashmir and at isolated places of Malakand, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Sargodha divisions, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday. Very cold and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country.