LAHORE, Dec 16: A cold wave gripping the country at present, dropped the minimum temperature in many a city including Lahore on Sunday, making it the coldest day of the winter.

In Lahore, the minimum temperature dropped to just 1 degree C on Saturday night, forcing people to remain indoors and wear warm clothes.

Bright sun during the day on Sunday provided much-needed relief to the people, but the impact of the cold wave originating from the snow capped mountains in the north is still being strongly felt.

The cold wind again started ruling the city in the evening, making Eid shopping or holiday outing difficult for people.

Skardu and Astore were the coldest places in the country with a minimum temperature of -8.7 and -7.5 degrees C, respectively.

The Met office said the cold wind followed the westerly system that moved away after generating last week’s rain in the country.

“We are expecting another westerly system that will affect the Northern Areas between December 19 and 21,” Chief Meteorologist Shaukat Awan said.

He also expected mist and fog in the province during the next week and said it would continue to be cold.

The maximum temperature in the city was 20 degrees C with 92 per cent humidity in the morning and 30 per cent in the evening.

It will remain cold and dry in Lahore and elsewhere in the country during the next 24 hours, according to weather pundits.