Mercury drops as K-P, FATA get light rains

Snowfall reported from Chitral, Kalam and Parachinar

PESHAWAR: Mercury plunged on Monday in many parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with the start of second spell of rain and snowfall on the mountains in Kalam and Chitral.

The weather remained cold and cloudy in most parts of the province during the last 24 hours, with rains reported from Hazara, Malakand and DI Khan divisions. The lowest temperature was recorded in Parachinar, where the mercury dropped to three below zero, followed by Chitral and Malamjaba with the minimum temperature of minus two and minus one degree Celsius respectively. According to the Pakistan Metrological Department, light rain was reported from southern parts of Swat, Lower and Upper Dir, Swabi, Mardan, Peshawar districts besides Bajaur and Kurram agencies whereas snowfall was reported from Chitral, Parachinar and Kalam.

The met department has predicted rains until Tuesday. With rains in parts of K-P, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has also issued alert asking the authorities concerned to remain vigilant as well as take necessary steps to avoid any loss of life/ damage to public and private property.

“Pakistan Metrological Department as predicted that westerly wave is expected to enter Pakistan from Sunday that will produce rain with snow fall over the hills from Sunday to Tuesday,” a letter issued by the PDMA read.

It stated that rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected at isolated place in K-P from Sunday adding snowfall is expected in Murree and Galyat.



“All concerned are requested to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid loss of life and damage to public and private property,” the letter read.

The minimum temperature in other cities of the K-P was: Peshawar 4.0, Dir and Kalam 0.0, Malamjaba 0.1,   DI Khan 12, Bannu 0.9, Risalpur 4.0, Balakot 3.0 and Kohat 7.0.

The Met Office forecast mainly cold and partly cloudy weather in most parts of the region. However rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds and snowfall over the hills is expected at scattered places in Chitral, Malakand, Lower Dir,  Upper Dir, Swat, Shangla, Bunner, Kohistan, Battagram, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Torghar, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak and Hangu districts and Kurram, Khyber, Orakzai, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies in Fata while at isolated places in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan and Tank districts and North and South Waziristan agencies in Fata.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2017.