Snowfall blankets Tirah Valley and Chitral, draws tourists

In Tirah Valley, trees, homes, and mountains are covered in a white sheet of snow, enhancing natural beauty

Heavy snowfall in Tirah Valley, Chitral, and surrounding areas has blanketed the region, transforming it into a picturesque winter wonderland.

In Tirah Valley, trees, homes, and mountains are covered in a white sheet of snow, enhancing the natural beauty. However, locals are grappling with disruptions, including road blockages and increased cold, which have affected daily routines.

Chitral and its adjoining areas, including Kalash Valleys, Garam Chashma, Sheshi Koh, and Golen, received 6 to 8 inches of snow. Chitral town reported 4 inches, while Ayun saw 2 inches of accumulation.

In the Lowari Tunnel area, snowfall has reached one foot, with road clearing operations underway. Despite challenging conditions, passenger vehicles from Peshawar and Islamabad have successfully reached Chitral.

Upper Chitral regions such as Yarkhun, Khot, Reech, and Phasti experienced heavier snowfall, impacting inter-district travel and creating difficulties for employees commuting to work.

With the cold intensifying, residents are staying indoors. The rising demand for firewood has led to inflated prices, further straining the local population.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department predicts dry weather in the plains and hilly areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa over the next 24 hours. Light rain in Peshawar overnight provided brief respite from dry cold. The coming week is expected to bring more rain and snowfall in mountainous regions.

Weather system approaching Punjab, heavy rainfall forecasted

PMD has announced that a rain-bearing system will enter the country tomorrow, affecting several regions, including Lahore and much of Punjab.

The system is expected to bring showers, with an increased chance of rain in Lahore and surrounding areas on January 4, Express News reported.

The department also forecasted rain for most districts in Punjab, with Lahore likely to experience rainfall by January 5.

The arrival of this system is expected to increase the intensity of the cold weather, with temperatures dropping further.

Lahore's minimum temperature was recorded at 6°C, while the maximum is expected to reach around 15°C.

The weather pattern will also lead to severe fog in the region, particularly in the mornings and evenings.

This has resulted in challenges for travellers, with several motorways being closed due to poor visibility. The fog will likely continue for the next few days, making travel conditions hazardous.

With this weather change, residents of Lahore and other cities in Punjab are advised to prepare for colder temperatures and potential disruptions to daily activities due to the rain and fog.

Moreover, the first snowfall of the new year in Gilgit-Baltistan and the upper Neelum Valley has turned the weather more chilly in the region.

However, the sky is clear in Murree and Galiyat despite an alert and forecast by PMD and the meteorological department respectively. The first snow fall of the winter season has exacerbated the travel woes of public.

The met office has forecast more snowfall and issued a travel advisory, asking local people and tourists to avoid travelling to the upper areas of G-B.