Lahore marked the arrival of its first winter rain today, with showers accompanied by chilly winds, which intensified the drop in temperatures. The rain, which began early in the morning, was reported in various parts of the city, including Garhi Shahu, Abbott Road, Mall Road, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Model Town, Gulberg, Kalma Chowk, and Garden Town. This rainfall ended a prolonged dry cold spell, providing a much-needed break from the dry weather.
Light rain is expected to continue throughout the day, not only in Lahore but also in nearby regions such as Kasur, Kahna, Pakpattan, and Renala Khurd. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has also predicted severe cold conditions in the mountainous areas during the early morning and nighttime hours. Additionally, light rain and snowfall are expected in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Kashmir, and northeastern Punjab. Dense fog is likely to cover the plains of Punjab, upper Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during these hours, reducing visibility.
The cold has also intensified in the mountainous regions, with temperatures plunging sharply. Leh recorded a chilling -13°C, while Skardu registered -11°C. Other areas like Gopis, Gilgit, and Dir saw temperatures drop to -9°C and -8°C, respectively, and Astore, Kalat, and Bagrot recorded temperatures as low as -7°C. Quetta, Ziarat, and Chitral also experienced frigid temperatures at -5°C.
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of further temperature drops in various regions in the coming days, forecasting a harsh winter season ahead.
