LAHORE – The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rainfall of varying intensities for Lahore and parts of Pakistan on Friday evening/night and the next day.

According to the synoptic situation, a westerly wave is affecting western parts of Balochistan.

It will likely move northeastwards and affect the upper parts of Pakistan during the next 24 hours.

Under these conditions, mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country on Friday evening/night and Saturday.

However, cloudy weather with light rain and light snowfall over high mountains is likely in northwestern Balochistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan on Friday evening/night.

On Saturday, rain with snowfall over high mountains is likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir.

Light rain is also expected in Islamabad and Punjab (Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore and Hafizabad).

Fog/smog is likely to persist in central/southern Punjab and upper Sindh.

Dense fog/smog is likely in Sahiwal, Sargodha, Lahore, Gujranwala, Narowal, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khanewal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Gujarat, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhelum, Bhakkar, Dera. Ghazi Khan and surroundings during morning and night hours.

Smog/fog update for Motorways/National Highway

Moderate to dense smog/fog may cause closure of portions of Motorways (Peshawar-Swabi, Swabi-Islamabad, Pindi Bhattian-Lahore, Kallar Kahar-Pindi Bhattian, Lahore-Abdul Hakim, Sialkot-Lahore, Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad, Faisalabad-Multan and Multan-Sukkur) from late night to early morning.

Less visibility will also affect vehicular movement on National Highway.

In Lahore, the minimum temperature will likely remain between 09-11 degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, cold and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country during the last 24 hours.

However, cloudy weather and rain occurred at isolated places in western Balochistan.

Leh remained the coldest place in the country where the mercury dropped 11 C below freezing.

In Islamabad, minimum temperature was recorded at 09 C.

Relative humidity in the evening was recorded at 93 per cent.