PMD Issues Alert as Rain, Snowfall and Thunderstorms Expected Across Northern Pakistan

BY Sabeeh Zanair :

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted widespread rain, snowfall and thunderstorms across northern regions and parts of Balochistan over the next two days, as a fresh westerly weather system enters the country on Saturday.

According to the PMD, the incoming system could trigger landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Authorities have also warned that heavy snowfall may disrupt traffic and create slippery road conditions in hilly regions on Sunday and Monday, urging tourists to postpone non-essential travel.

In Balochistan, rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, along with snowfall in elevated areas, is forecast for Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Chagai, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur and Awaran between February 8 and 9.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also expected to experience rain and thunderstorms with snowfall over higher altitudes in districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan on February 9 and 10. Hailstorms may occur at isolated locations.

Islamabad and Rawalpindi are likely to receive intermittent rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunder.

While Lahore is expected to remain partly cloudy, several other parts of Punjab — including Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khushab, Jhang, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot and Narowal — may witness rain and thunderstorms, with snowfall in nearby hills from Sunday evening through Monday. Windstorms are also possible in southern districts.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, rain, snow and thunderstorms are expected in areas such as Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur on February 9 and 10. Isolated hailstorms are also likely.

Meanwhile, most parts of Sindh are expected to remain partly to mostly cloudy, with light rain or drizzle and occasional gusty winds in coastal regions over the next two days.

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