Widespread rain is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other parts of Pakistan on Thursday and Friday, with occasional breaks. Heavy snowfall is also forecast for the northern areas during this period.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that a strong westerly wave is likely to reach the western parts of the country on Wednesday evening and night. It is expected to affect most parts of Pakistan on Thursday.
Under these conditions, cloudy weather with rain, wind, thunderstorms, and snowfall over the hills is expected in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northwestern Balochistan on Wednesday evening and night. The rest of the country is likely to experience cold and partly cloudy weather.
On Thursday and Friday, widespread intermittent rain, wind, and thunderstorms with snowfall over hills are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.
Heavy snowfall is likely in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Galyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Haveli, and Rawalakot.
In Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, and Zhob, heavy snowfall may cause road closures or slippery conditions on January 22. In Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli, the same conditions are expected on January 22 and 23.
There is a risk of landslides and avalanches in hilly areas of Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir. Tourists are advised to be extra careful and avoid unnecessary travel during this period.
Islamabad’s minimum temperature is expected to stay between 03°C and 05°C on Thursday and between 04°C and 06°C on Friday. Rawalpindi’s minimum temperature is expected to remain between 06°C and 08°C on Thursday and between 07°C and 09°C on Friday.
Meanwhile, cold and dry weather prevailed across most parts of the country, with very cold and partly cloudy conditions in the hilly areas during the last 24 hours. Isolated rain and snowfall occurred in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and fog was observed in some districts of Punjab, Upper Sindh, and the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Rainfall recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa included Kalam with 04 mm, while snowfall in Kalam measured 02 inches.
Leh remained the coldest place in the country, with temperatures dropping 10°C below freezing. Minimum temperatures in Gupis were -06°C, Bagrote and Parachinar -05°C, Kalam and Malam Jabba -04°C, and Kalat and Quetta -03°C.
In Islamabad, the minimum temperature was 06°C, with relative humidity in the morning recorded at 92 percent. In Rawalpindi, the minimum temperature was also 06°C, with morning humidity at 80 percent.