Temperature slumped to minus 20 degrees Celsius in Skardu over the past 24 hours as the Met Office on Saturday forecast a very cold weather for the northern areas.

Cold and dry weather is expected all over the country while very cold in northern parts and north Balochistan, the Met Office said on Saturday. Fog is likely to prevail over a few places of the plains of Punjab and upper Sindh during morning hours. "Continental air is prevailing over most upper parts of the country," it added.

In the last 24 hours: Weather remained cold and dry in the most parts of the country, while very cold in northern parts. Astore and Kalam witnessed minus 15 degrees Celsius, each, Gupis minus 14, Kalat and Bagrote minus 12, each, Quetta minus 9, Parachinar minus 8, Gilgit and Dir minus 6, Malamjabba, Dalbandin and Chitral minus 5, each, Zhob and Drosh minus 4, each.