Winter Arrives with Rain in Lahore, Snow Warnings Up North

News Desk 

Lahore:  The season’s first winter rain tightened its grip on Lahore on Thursday, sending temperatures further down and prompting weather authorities to issue a red alert for heavy rainfall and snowfall across northern Pakistan.

Intermittent showers accompanied by a cold breeze swept through several parts of the provincial capital, including Johar Town, Jail Road, Mall Road, Shadman, Qurtaba Chowk and areas near the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Light drizzle was also reported in Township and Green Town, while gusty winds and persistent cloud cover intensified the winter chill.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, rainfall was recorded in multiple districts over the past 24 hours, with Multan receiving the highest accumulation at 19 millimetres, including 13mm at the airport.

Murree recorded 8mm, while Sargodha and Chakwal received 7mm each. In Lahore, light to moderate rainfall reached up to 6mm in some localities, with hail reported in a few areas.

Rawalpindi recorded 5mm of rain at Kacheri, 4mm at Shamsabad and 3mm at Perodhai. Light showers ranging between 1mm and 3mm were also reported in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Jhang and Layyah.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/winter-showers-lash-parts-of-karachi/

The PDMA has advised residents to remain cautious as scattered showers may continue in parts of Punjab.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that heavy rain and snowfall could disrupt travel and trigger road closures in mountainous regions, including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree and the Galliyat. Similar conditions are expected in parts of Azad Kashmir, including Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli and Rawalakot.

Authorities cautioned that the active weather system may cause flash flooding in local streams and nullahs across upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while the risk of landslides and avalanches remains high. Tourists have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise extreme caution.

The PMD said a strong westerly wave is affecting most parts of the country and is likely to persist in upper regions. Widespread intermittent rain, wind and thunderstorms — with snowfall over hills — are expected in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and upper and central Punjab. Moderate to heavy rain and snow may occur at higher elevations, while cold and dry conditions are forecast for other regions.

Over the past 24 hours, scattered rain and thunderstorms were also reported in Balochistan and Sindh. Parachinar recorded heavy rainfall of 88mm, while Jacobabad and Sukkur received 10mm each, Khuzdar 12mm and Bhakkar 9mm. Snowfall of up to two inches was reported in Kalam, Quetta and Parachinar.

The coldest temperatures were recorded in Leh at minus 11 degrees Celsius, followed by minus 5 degrees in Gupis, Skardu, Bagrote and Parachinar, and minus 4 degrees in Kalam.