Light rain predicted for Karachi; heavy snowfall likely to blanket parts of country

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast light rain for Karachi and many other parts of Sindh, while heavy snowfall is likely to blanket parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Balochistan and Punjab in the next week.

The PMD said rain and thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is predicted in upcoming week.

The Met Office predicted that a westerly wave is likely to approach western parts of the country from December 29’s night, and strengthen from December 30, which is expected to grip most upper/central parts on December 31, and persist in upper parts till January 2, 2026.

Under the influence of this weather system, the weather department said, rain-wind/thunderstorm with snowfalls over hills is expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gawadar, Jiwani, Awaran, Chagi, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk and Kharan from December 29 to December 31, with occasional gaps. Meanwhile, isolated light rain or drizzle is expected in Sindh’s Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Thatta, Badin and surroundings on December 30.

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The PMD said rain-wind/thunderstorm — with moderate to few heavy snowfalls in upper areas — is expected in KP’s Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Waziristan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, D. I. Khan, Tank and Kohat from December 30 to January 1 with occasional gaps.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm with moderate snowfalls is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche and Shigar as well as Kashmir’s Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur from December 30 to January 2, with occasional gaps.

The Met Office said rain and thunderstorm with snowfalls is expected to hit Punjab’s Murree and Galliyat from December 30 to January 2 with occasional gaps. Isolated rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Potohar region, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura and Gujrat between December 31 and January 1, while in Mianwali, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Khushab, Noorpurthal, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, Jhang and Sahiwal on December 31.

The weather advisory department warned that snowfall may cause road closure/ slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli from December 30 to January 2.

“There’s a possibility of the landslides and avalanche in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period,” it said.

The PMD said tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the period.

“Fog condition is likely to subside in central/southern parts of Punjab and upper Sindh during the wet spell. Day-time temperatures are likely to drop further in coming week particularly after the spell,” it added.