LAHORE: Below normal temperatures and cold wind from the west have set a cold wave over the country, intensifying winter over the hills and making nights chilly in plains.

According to the Met department on Wednesday, the coldest place in the country was Skardu with -11 degrees Celsius minimum temperature. It was followed by Gupis -7, Quetta and Astore -6, Hunza -50, Kalat and Kalam -4, Gilgit and Dalbandin -3, Bagrote, Dir, Malamjabba, Chitral and Rawalakot -2, and Drosh -1.

The minimum temperature in Lahore was 4 degrees C, in Bahawalnagar 5, in Faisalabad 3.5, in Islamabad 2.5, in Jhelum 4.2, in Khanpur 4, in Mianwali 3, in Multan 6 and in Murree zero.

The Met department said the minimum temperatures in the plain areas were slightly below their normal value. And bright sunshine during daytime was providing a relief against chilly nights.

The Met department also reponed fog in some cities in Punjab and Sindh. Fog reduced visibility to 50 metres in Narowal, 150 metres in Sialkot, 200 metres in Moenjodaro, 500 metres in Jhelum, 600 metres in Jhang and 800 metres in Sukkur.

It expected mainly cold and dry weather in most parts of the country in the next 24 hours 100. Very cold weather is expected in northern pans of the country. Dense to hallow foggy conditions are likely to continue in few central /southern pans of Punjab and Peshawar division during morning/night hours.