The weather Sunday changed throughout the country as many cities see the first rainfall welcoming the winter season, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Islamabad:

The temperature dropped even further after rain showers continued all night long in the Federal Capital. According to the meteorological department, strong winds and thunderstorms are expected today as well. Some places in the capital are also expected to witness hail showers along with the rain.

The Motorway police took precautionary measures following the start of the fog season. The speed limit was also reduced for the motorways after analysis and research of the accidents occurring. Although the speed limit of Motorway M2 Lahore-Islamabad, M3, M4 and M9 were not reduced.

Motorway Fog precautions:

The speed limit for Light Transport Vehicle (LTV) was reduced to 100km/h from 120km/h starting from Thokar Niaz Baig till the Ravi toll plaza whereas the speed for the Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) was lowered from 100 to 80km/h.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

The areas of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, Shangla, Kalam, Naran, Pattan and Kohistan are expected to have thunderstorms along with heavy winds according to the meteorological department.

Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Peshawar, Swabi, Noushera and Charsadda will also expectedly experience cloudbursts and heavy winds while Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Mardan, Kohat, Kurram and northern as well as southern Waziristan will also see a similar spell of weather change.

A spell of snow-fall is expected to be casted on the mountain hills and some points might be experiencing hail storms.

The spell of drizzling started in Peshawar which will reportedly continue till the morning.

Motorway Fog precautions:

The speed limits at the M14 Dera Ismail Khan were also lowered from 120 to 100km/h for the LTV and from 100 to 80km/h for the HTV.

Punjab:

It is expected to remain partly cloudy in most of the upper and central districts of Punjab.

According to the meteorological department, Rain showers with strong winds are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sialkot, Narowal and Bhakkar.

Thunderstorm with strong winds are expected in Lahore, Layyah, Khushab, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin and Hafizabad along with hail storms at some points.

Motorway Fog precautions:

The speed limit on the M4 motorway Pindi Bhattian-Multan was reduced to 100 from 120km/h for LTV whereas that for a HTV was set at 80km/h from 100km/h.

The speed border on the M11 Lahore-Sialkot Motorway was set at 100 from 120km/h for the LTV and from 80 to 100km/h for HTV.

Demand of dry fruits increased:

The demand of dry fruits increased dramatically as the winter season arrived in Multan. Although the citizens are worried about the hiking prices of the seasonal gifts.

According to the reports, the local almonds are being sold at Rs2000 while figs are being sold at Rs1800 per KG, apricots at Rs1200, dates at Rs1800, peanuts at Rs650 while Chickpeas are being sold at Rs400 per Kgs. The citizens say that the winters are not enjoyed if dry fruits are not consumed but the prices are hiked every year.

Balochistan:

The weather in most districts of Balochistan will remain dry as per the weather department whereas Quetta, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Nokundi, Pisni and Gwadar along with the cities of Kech, Awaran, Panjgur and Zhob are reported to be partly cloudy with a chance of rain.

Snowfall

The valley of Ziarat (Zero-point) experienced a spell of snow-like hail shower.

Quetta received the first shower of winters followed by a drop in the temperature. A wave of happiness was spread amongst the citizens as the experts said that the rains falling in Quetta will prove beneficial for wheat sowing and the seasonal ailments have disappeared due to the rain.

Rainfalls started in the areas of Machh and Bolan as well.

Gas load shedding starts:

The area of Kalat received winter’s first rainfall. The drizzling dropped the temperature in Kalat but also took away the gas with it. The people faced many problems as the gas totally disappeared.

Sindh:

Sindh likely Balochistan will also be experiencing dry weather in most of its districts. Larkana, Sukkur, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad and Jacobabad are likely to experience light rain with strong winds and thundershowers.

Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan:

Kashmir and Gilgit areas will also be experiencing light rains accompanied by winds and thunderstorms. Whereas the mountains and some points in Kashmir are expected to receive snowfalls and torrents of rainfall respectively.