Sunday weather: foggy plains, freezing hills and low visibility

WEB DESK: Cold and dry conditions are expected to dominate much of the country on Sunday, with forecasters warning of severe cold in the hilly regions during the morning and night hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said.

Fog and smog are likely to blanket parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the start and end of the day, reducing visibility in several low-lying areas. Meteorologists also note a likely dip in day and night temperatures across the northern areas in the coming days, alongside a gradual increase in fog over the plains of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Going region by region, the PMD said that in the federal capital, Islamabad and its surroundings will experience a cold and dry day. Most districts of Punjab are set for similar conditions, including Murree, Galiyat and nearby hill stations, where the chill will be more pronounced.

Fog and smog may disrupt early-morning movement in cities such as Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Jhelum, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Multan, Khanewal, Layyah, Kot Addu and Bahawalpur.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will face cold and dry weather as well, with severe cold gripping the hilly areas around dawn and after sunset. Light to moderate fog is expected in parts of Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan and nearby localities.

Sindh will remain mostly dry, though the night and early-morning hours may bring a sharp drop in temperatures across several districts. In Balochistan, cold and dry conditions will prevail, intensifying into severe cold in the northern districts during the darker hours.

Kashmir is forecast to see a cold and dry Sunday, with the potential for harsh cold at both ends of the day, while Gilgit-Baltistan will experience similar weather, marked by crisp daytime conditions and severe cold settling in during the morning and night.