Tuesday weather: chill intensifies, but air clears

ISLAMABAD: A spell of cold and dry weather is set to prevail across most parts of the country on Tuesday, with extremely cold conditions expected in hilly and northern regions, according to the latest weather outlook by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

Dense to moderate fog is likely to affect large parts of the plains, particularly in Punjab, Upper Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, potentially disrupting road and air travel during morning and night hours. Fog is also expected at isolated places in the Pothohar region and Kashmir during the early morning.

In the federal capital, Islamabad, cold and dry weather will dominate, while fog or haze may develop at a few locations in the morning.

Most districts in Punjab will experience cold and dry conditions, with extreme cold forecast for Murree, Galiyat and surrounding areas. Moderate to severe fog is likely to blanket several cities, including Sialkot, Narowal, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and many others, particularly during morning hours. Parts of the Pothohar region may also see fog.

Cold and dry weather will continue across the Sindh. Moderate to severe fog is expected in Sukkur, Rohri, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Larkana, Tando Jam and the Mohenjo Daro area.

Most districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will remain cold and dry, while hilly areas are likely to experience extremely cold conditions. Moderate to heavy fog is expected in Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan during morning and night hours.

Cold and dry weather is forecast for most districts in Balochistan, with extremely cold conditions in the northern parts of the province. Fog may develop in Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Dera Murad Jamali, Jafarabad, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi and Sibi during the morning.

Extremely cold and dry weather is expected to persist in Kashmir, while Gilgit-Baltistan will also remain under severe cold conditions. Authorities have advised commuters to exercise caution during foggy conditions, particularly in the early morning and nighttime hours.

Meanwhile, air pollution in Lahore decreased. Overall, the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in the city is 152 today.