Rain, wind, thunderstorms in Balochistan, upper regions expected

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, wind and thunderstorms, with snowfall over hilly areas, across Balochistan and upper parts of the country from the night of February 8 to February 10 due to an approaching westerly weather system.

According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre, rain and thunderstorms with snowfall are expected in several districts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chaghi, Noshki, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Khuzdar, Kech, and Gwadar, Panjgur and Awaran on February 8 and 9.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to receive rain and thunderstorms with snowfall over hills in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan on February 9 and 10. Isolated hailstorms may also occur.

In Punjab and Islamabad, rain and thunderstorms with snowfall over hills are expected at isolated places, including Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Narowal from the evening of February 9 to February 10. Lahore is expected to remain partly cloudy, while gusty winds or windstorms may affect southern districts.

Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are also likely to experience rain, wind and thunderstorms with snowfall in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur on February 9 and 10, with chances of isolated hailstorms in Kashmir.

In Sindh, partly cloudy to cloudy weather is expected across most districts, with light rain or drizzle and gusty winds likely in coastal areas on February 8 and 9.

The PMD warned that snowfall may disrupt traffic and create slippery conditions in mountainous areas, including Naran, Kaghan, Swat, Kalam, Murree, Galiyat, Astore and Neelum Valley from the night of February 9. Landslides may also occur in vulnerable parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Tourists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period, while all concerned authorities have been directed to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures to prevent any untoward situation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026