First Winter Rain, Snowfall Predicted Today: Met Office

News Desk

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasted chances of the country’s first winter rain and snowfall starting from Friday(today)through November 7, 2022, which will likely cause the upper regions to experience colder weather.

A westerly wave is likely to approach the nation on November 4 evening or night and is likely to linger until November 7.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind/thunderstorm as well as snowfall over the mountains with isolated hail storms are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Malakand, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan from November 4 to 7 while in Bajaur, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Kohat, Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhang, and Faisalabad from November 5 to 7.

Heavy rainfall is expected in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, Islamabad, Potohar region, Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Sialkot from November 5 to 6.

Light to moderate rain-wind/thunderstorm is also expected in Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Chaman, Pishin, Qillah Saifullah, Loralai, Bolan, Sibbi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Dadu, ShaheedBenazirabad, Karachi, Qambar Shahdadkot, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Naseerabad, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, and Okara on November 06 and November 07.

About the possible impacts, the Met office revealed that the day temperature is likely to fall 05-07 Celsius in upper parts including north Balochistan and 02-04 Celsius grade in southern parts of the country.

Following the passage of the westerly wave, cold wave conditions are predicted to affect upper regions, including north Balochistan.

In the hilly areas of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rain may cause landslides. Wheat planting will benefit from the current wet spell but rice crop harvesting may be impacted.

“Particular caution is recommended for all concerned authorities to exercise during the anticipated timeframe,” the Met Office said.