PMD Forecasts Rain, Snowfall Over Hills In Parts of Pakistan

News Desk

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted rain with snowfall over the hills in the country’s western and upper parts from Saturday through Monday, resulting in a two to four degree Celsius drop in temperature.

A westerly wave entered the country’s western regions on Saturday and will grasp upper areas on Sunday and may linger until Monday afternoon.

Due to the influence of this weather system; rain, wind, thunderstorm, and isolated hailstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected from January 28 evening or night till January 30in Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Chitral, Dir, Swat, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Abbottabad.

While rain, wind and thunderstorm is expected on January 29 and 30in Islamabad, Potohar region, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin,  Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Khushab, Mianwali,  Sargodha, Karak, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Buner, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera  Ismail Khan.

Light to moderate rain along with wind, thunderstorm andsnowfall over the hills is expected in Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Harnai, QilaSaifullah, Qillah Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Panjgur, Turbat, Khuzdar, Kalat and Makran coast on January 28 evening/night and January 29.

PMD states that light rain is also expected in Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Okara, and Pakpattan during the period.

From January 28 (night) till January 30, moderate to isolated heavy snowfall may hamper traveland result in road closures in Murree, Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli.

During the anticipated period, there may also be landslides in Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Visitors have been urged to exercise additional caution during the spell.

The standing crops, especially in the Barani areas of Punjab and KP, would benefit from the rain. All relevant authorities have been urged to exercise caution to prevent any undesirable events throughout the forecast period by the Met Office.