K-P gets first winter snowfall

Temperatures fall as rains and gusty winds lash province

PESHAWAR/ BALAKOT: The mountains and hilly areas of the province received the first snowfall of the winter late on Tuesday night and the morning of Wednesday. Several areas were lashed by rains as well with the current spell expected to continue well into the weekend.

The rain and snowfall caused the temperature in the province to plummet by an average of over 10 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological department stated that there was snowfall in different parts of Chitral, Upper Dir and Mansehra and even in the Orakzai Tribal District.

Heavy rains and gusty winds were reported in Malakand, Swat, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Chitral, Bajaur, Abbott­abad, Mansehra, Battagram, Swabi and Mar­dan. Despite the snow and rain in Chitral, the Lowari Tunnel remained open for traffic.

According to meteorological reports, the temperature dropped to zero in Chitral, while Dir and Parachinar were at five degrees Celsius.

Owing to snowfall, temperatures in the hill stations of Shogran, Kaghan, Naran and Lake Saiful Malook dropped to minus six degrees. These areas also received more than a foot of snow. Further, rains in Balakot have also turned the weather of the area chilly.

The temperature also fell in Torghar, Kohistan, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, and Hangu.

Thunderstorms were recorded in Kohat, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan and South Waziristan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2019.