LAHORE, Jan 15: Widespread rain, which was light in the plains, and snow over the hills in Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and GilgitBaltistan dropped temperature and introduced another severe cold wave in the country on Sunday.

The rain that settled pollution in the air increasing because of dry weather was also welcomed by farmers.

Intermittent rain began in Lahore on Saturday night into Sunday. It remained heavily overcast during the day.

There were spells of drizzle or downpour till Sunday night. Strong wind accompanied the rain.

The Met office had recorded 9mm of rain at its Jail Road office and 11mm at the airport by 8pm. The day's maximum temperature dropped to 13.3 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature recorded on Saturday night was 3.8 degrees Celsius.

The Met office reported heavy snowfall over the hills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab (Murree) and Balochistan, closing all major roads and thoroughfares. Murree has received around one foot of snow during the last 24 hours.

The minimum temperature in Parachinar was recorded -11 degrees, Skardu -10, Kalam -6 and -5 degrees Celsius in Murree.

Dir had received 29mm of rain, Parachinar 28mm, Islamabad and Kotli 27mm, Murree 23mm, Kalam, Saidu Sharif and Rawlakot 26mm, Chakwal 11mm, Jhelum and Muzaffarabad 22mm, Balakot 21mm, Risalpur 17mm and Mandi Bahauddin 12mm on Sunday. The Met office forecast more rain and snowfall over the hills in these areas including Lahore in the next 24 hours.— Staff Reporter