Weather analyst Jawad Memon says the mercury dropped as low as 4.5°C in northern parts of Karachi
As the ongoing spell of cold weather intensifies, Karachi on Sunday experienced the coldest morning of the year as the mercury dipped below 4.5 degrees Celsius.
With chilly winds sweeping the port city, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had warned Karachiites to brace for even colder weather, predicting the cold wave to intensify from Saturday night.
According to the Met department, the lowest temperature was recorded at 6°C in Karachi, but weather analyst Jawad Memon claimed the mercury dropped as low as 4.5°C in the northern parts of the city.
Meanwhile, the humidity level in the atmosphere was recorded at 50% and northeasterly winds were blowing at a speed of 10 to 12 kilometers per hour.
The National Weather Forecast Center has announced that the weather will remain cold and dry for the next 24 hours.
According to the Meteorological Department, the current cold wave will continue till January 16, during which the mercury is likely to drop as much as 3 degrees Celsius.
Karachi and Sindh are witnessing cold weather under the influence of a western system that entered the province through Balochistan, PMD reported last week.
According to PMD’s weekly weather outlook, cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, with fog and snow in some areas, throughout the week.
“Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very cold in upper parts and north Balochistan. Frost possible in Pothohar region, Kashmir and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during morning hours. Fog possible in upper Sindh, Punjab and lowland areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the outlook said.
Earlier, the Met department also predicted cold and dry weather in most parts of the country and cloudy conditions in the western and upper regions.
The PMD said snowfall has stopped in Muree but the intensity of the weather remains the same. Citizens are facing inconvenience due to freezing of water inside the pipelines at the hill station, which is a popular tourist spot in winter.
In Punjab, the M2 highway has been closed for traffic from Lahore to Khanqah Dogran as fog continues to cover several towns in the province. Motorway police closed traffic from Faizpur to Jaranwala and M11 from Lahore to Sambaryal.