RAWALPINDI: The cold and dry weather will continue in the coming week as there is no chance of rain.

According to Met Office, very cold weather persists in northern areas and north Balochistan. Foggy conditions are likely to persist over plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh during night and morning hours. Frost is likely to occur at isolated places in the Potohar region during morning hours.

The Met Office said there was no chance of rain in the next few days in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad while it will occur in northern areas. It said the temperature would further drop in coming days.

It said in December and January overall a tendency of normal to slightly below normal precipitation was likely in the country.

Northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan may receive slightly below normal precipitation whereas southern Punjab, most parts of Balochistan and Sindh are expected to receive nearly normal precipitation during the forecast season.

Temperatures are expected to remain above normal over northern parts of the country; slightly above normal over western to south-western parts while nearly normal over eastern parts with a tendency towards below normal nighttime temperatures over southwestern parts.

It said dry and stable atmospheric conditions during the current season may cause thick foggy conditions in plain areas of Pakistan. This condition will get improved towards the end of the season.

Dry conditions are likely to adversely impact the air quality index in urban (southern and central Punjab) areas resulting in smog development. High temperatures could shorten the Rabi crop season in Sindh and Punjab.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022