ISLAMABAD – Biting cold and fog brought life to a standstill in the plains of Pakistan by disrupting road, rail and air traffic on Wednesday.
Less visibility forced the closure of portions of Motorways (Peshawar-Swabi, Islamabad-Kallar Kahar, Pindi Bhattian-Lahore, Kallar Kahar-Pindi Bhattian, Lahore-Abdul Hakim, Sialkot-Lahore, Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad, Faisalabad-Multan and Multan-Sukkur).

Less visibility also affected normal traffic flow on the National Highway.
Fog also disrupted the schedule of international and domestic flights and that of passenger trains.
Skardu and Leh remained the coldest places in the country where the mercury dropped 09 degrees Celsius below freezing.
In Islamabad, minimum temperature was recorded at 04 C.
Relative humidity in the evening was recorded at 92 per cent.

In Rawalpindi, minimum temperature was recorded at 06 C.
Relative humidity in the evening was recorded at 75 per cent.

According to the synoptic situation, continental air prevails over most parts of Pakistan.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted mainly cold and dry weather for Islamabad, Rawalpindi and most parts of Pakistan on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday.

Extremely cold weather is likely in the upper parts during the period.
Fog/smog will continue to prevail in plains of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh.

Fog update for Punjab

Dense fog/smog is likely to persist in 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 surrounding during morning and night hours.

Frost may occur at a few places in the Pothohar region during morning hours.

In Islamabad, the minimum temperature will likely remain between 01-03 C on Thursday and 00-02 C on Friday.
In Rawalpindi, minimum temperature will likely remain between 03-05 C on Thursday and 02-04 on Friday.