The Meteorological Department has forecast that a westerly weather system is expected to reach the northwestern regions of the country on Saturday evening and is likely to continue until the morning of 16 March.
Because of this system, partly cloudy to cloudy conditions are expected in several areas, along with chances of moderate rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms.
Snowfall over higher mountains and isolated hailstorms are also likely in districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battgram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Khyber, Mohmand, Peshawar, Bannu, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bajaur, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob, Barkhan, Chaman, Ziarat as well as parts of Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir from the night of 14 March to the morning of 16 March.
Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms with chances of isolated hail is also expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan during the same period. The rainfall activity may occur with occasional breaks.
Officials have further indicated that another western disturbance could enter the western parts of the country on the night of 17 March.
Authorities have warned that landslides may take place in vulnerable mountainous areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, and Kashmir during this spell. There is also a possibility of lightning strikes at isolated locations. Tourists have been advised to stay alert and avoid unnecessary travel while the weather system remains active.
Daytime temperatures in the upper regions are likely to drop by three to four degrees Celsius. Farmers have been urged to plan their agricultural activities in line with the changing weather conditions.