PMD Warns of Severe Weather Across Pakistan This Weekend
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan is set to experience a wave of rain, thunderstorms, hail, and snowfall this weekend as a westerly weather system moves across the country, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Friday.
Authorities cautioned that the system may trigger landslides, lightning strikes, and a drop in temperatures, particularly in northern and hilly regions.
According to the PMD, the westerly wave will reach northwestern Pakistan on Saturday evening and is expected to persist until Monday morning, affecting several provinces simultaneously.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, districts including Chitral, Swat, Dir, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan are expected to experience rain-wind-thunderstorm, snowfall over high mountains, and isolated hailstorms from Friday night through Sunday morning. Vulnerable areas could face landslides, while lightning may strike in isolated locations.
Parts of Balochistan including Zhob, Barkhan, Chaman, and Ziarat, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, will see similar weather conditions.
The Pothohar region and Punjab plains are also likely to experience intermittent rain, thunderstorms, and hail in cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Dera Ghazi Khan, and surrounding districts. The PMD forecast a 3–4°C drop in daytime temperatures in northern areas during this period.
Authorities also highlighted that another western disturbance is expected on Monday night, suggesting that unsettled weather could continue into the next week.
Tourists have been urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel in hilly and mountainous regions, while farmers were advised to protect crops and livestock in accordance with the prevailing weather.
This weather event signals one of the first major winter-to-spring westerly systems of the year, reminding residents and travelers to plan accordingly and remain alert for local advisories.
