Widespread winter rain is predicted in Pakistan during the upcoming week. Snowfall is also expected over the mountainous areas during the wet spell.
Synoptic Situation:
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), a shallow westerly wave will likely approach the upper parts of Pakistan on January 16 and may persist till January 19. It will likely strengthen on January 20 and grip most parts of the country on January 21.
Forecast:
Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind/thunderstorm with light to moderate snowfalls is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, Shigar), Kashmir (Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli), upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur and Bunner) from January 16 evening/night to January 19, with occasional gaps.
Light rain/snowfall is also expected in Murree, Galyat and surroundings from January 18 to January 20.
Widespread rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, Galyat, Islamabad, Potohar region, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions, and Peshawar, Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan divisions from January 20 to January 23 with occasional gaps. Heavy snowfall is also expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Haveli, and Rawalakot during the period.
Rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Balochistan (Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gawadar, Jiwani, Lasbella, Kech, Awaran, Chaghi, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk and Kharan) on January 21 and January 22, and Sindh (Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Naushero Feroz, Kashmore, Larkana, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and Ghotki) on January and January 23 with occasional gaps.
Moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, and Zhob during the period.
Impacts:
Heavy snowfall may cause road closures/slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai and Zhob from January 21 to January 23.
There is a possibility of landslides/avalanches in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period. Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period.
Fog will likely diminish in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh during the wet spell. Daytime temperatures are likely to drop significantly during the period.
