Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has advised passengers to remain cautious while travelling on motorways amidst dense foggy weather conditions.
The PMD has said that the dense foggy conditions would affect air quality and transportation service. “Travelers are advised to remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation. Air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups,” it said.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the upcoming cloudy weather would neutralize foggy spells from the Punjab province, which has increased its thickness at present, a major cause behind the ongoing cold spell in the region.
The Met Office said that the duration of a cold spell would reduce after three days despite the continuity of the severity of the weather.
Motorway police precautions
Motorway police have requested that the public avoided unnecessary travel in foggy weather and use fog lights during travells. “People are advised to keep a middle distance between the cars more than in normal conditions. Before starting the journey, help and information can be sought from helpline 130,” it said.
Today’s weather
The Met Office has forecast dry and cold weather in most parts of the Country, while very cold in the upper parts during the next 24 hours.
Foggy weather condition
Dense foggy weather conditions will likely continue over plain Punjab, upper Sindh, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Fog is likely to occur at isolated places in the Pothohar region and Kashmir during morning hours.
As per the synoptic situation, continental air prevails over most parts of the Country. A shallow trough of a westerly wave is likely to approach the western and upper parts in the next 12 hours.
Air quality
The air quality in Lahore is 179 US AQI; in Bahawalpur, it is 168, 185 in Muridke, and 180 in Rawalpindi. In Sindh, the air quality in Karachi is 258 US AQI,221 in Mirpur Khas, while Islamabad’s air quality stands at 156. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, air quality is 289 in Peshawar and 93 in Abbottabad.
Recorded temperatures
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met), a maximum of 3 degrees Celsius (°C) temperature was recorded in Islamabad, 8°C in Lahore, 14°C in Karachi, and 3°C in Peshawar, -2.5 °C in Quetta and 2°C in Gilgit.
Minimum recorded temperatures
Today’s Recorded Lowest Minimum Temperatures (°C): Leh -15, Skardu -12, Kalam, Astore -08, Kalat, Gupis, Hunza -07, Gilgit -06, Quetta, Ziarat -05, Chitral, Dir and Malamjabba -04.
