PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall across Pakistan from the night of February 8th to 10th, as a westerly wave is expected to approach the western parts of the country and then move towards the northern regions.
In Balochistan, rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by snowfall over the hills, are likely in the following districts, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chaghi, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur, and Awaran during February 8th and 9th.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also expected to experience rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall in hilly areas across Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Bunner, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan on February 9th and 10th. Isolated hailstorms are also possible in the province.
In Punjab and Islamabad, isolated rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall are expected over the hills in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khushab, Jhang, Noorpurthal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, and Narowal from the evening of February 9th to February 10th. Lahore is likely to experience partly cloudy weather, with isolated hailstorms and gusty winds expected in some areas.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir will also witness rain and thunderstorms with snowfall in the following areas, Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, Shigar, and in Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur during February 9th and 10th, with isolated hailstorms likely in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Sindh is expected to have partly cloudy to cloudy weather, with light rain or drizzle and gusty winds in coastal areas on February 8th and 9th.
The Met Office has warned that snowfall may cause traffic disruptions and slippery conditions in northern and hilly areas, including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli.
Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir. Tourists and travelers are advised to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel during this period.
Read also: Weather alert, PMD forecast rain, snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
