ISLAMABAD – Mercury dropped to the freezing point in Islamabad as most parts of the country reeled under a severe cold wave on Friday.

In Islamabad, the minimum temperature was recorded at zero degrees Celsius.

Relative humidity during the morning was recorded at 84 per cent.

In Rawalpindi, the minimum temperature was recorded at 03 C.

Relative humidity during the morning was recorded at 84 per cent.

Skardu and Leh remained the coldest places in the country where mercury dropped 10 C below freezing.

Dense fog/smog forced the closure of Motorways and disrupted normal vehicular movement on the National Highway and other inter and intra-city roads.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted the prevailing cold wave to persist in the twin cities and most parts of Pakistan during the next two days.

As per the synoptic situation, a shallow westerly wave prevails over western parts of Pakistan. It is likely to move eastward during the next 24 hours and affect the upper parts of the country.

Under these conditions, mainly cold and dry weather is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and most parts of Pakistan on Friday evening/night, Saturday and Sunday.

Freezing and partly cloudy weather is likely in northern areas of the country and north Balochistan.

Light rain and snowfall are likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Frost is likely to occur in Islamabad, Potohar region and Kashmir during morning hours.

Dense fog/smog is likely to persist in Punjab (Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Okara, Kasur, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Mangla, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Toba Tek Singh, Khanewal, Multan, Khanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Hafizabad, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan and surroundings), plains of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh.

Dense fog/smog may force the closure of Motorways and disrupt traffic on other inter and intra-city roads including the National Highway.

In Islamabad, the minimum temperature will likely remain between -01-01 degrees Celsius on Saturday and -02-00 C on Sunday.

Rawalpindi’s minimum temperature will likely remain between 01-03 C on Saturday and 00-02 C on Sunday.