Light rain, snowfall expected in northern parts of Pakistan from tomorrow: PMD

Light to moderate rain and snowfall is expected to hit north Balochistan and other northern parts of Pakistan from Friday (tomorrow), the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Thursday.

The Met Office predicted that a shallow westerly wave is likely to approach western/northern parts of the country from January 30 and may persist till February 3.

Under the influence of this weather system, it said, mainly cloudy weather conditions with light to moderate rain and light to moderate snowfalls over the hills is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche and Shigar districts, Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhnuti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Bunner ,Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Kurram and Waziristan from January 31 to February 3 with occasional gaps.

“Light rain is also expected in Islamabad, Potohar region, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala and surroundings from February 1 to 3 with occasional gaps,” it said. Whereas, it said, light rain and snow is expected in Murree, Galliyat and surrounding aread during the  same period.

The PMD said light to moderate rain-wind and snow is expected in northern parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, from January 31 to February 1.

The weather advisory body warned that snowfall may cause slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh and Haveli from February 1 to 2 and Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai and Zhob from January 31 to February 1.

There’s “possibility of the landslides/avalanche in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period,” it said, advising tourists to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period.

Day time temperatures are likely to drop during the period, it added.