Northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa blanketed by snow as cold weather intensifies

Cold weather has tightened its grip on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with several districts receiving rain, and some upper regions recording up to 17 inches of snowfall.

The temperature continued to drop, making conditions harsher for residents.

According to the Meteorological Department, rain and snowfall are expected to persist in Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Khyber, and Kurram districts.

Most parts of the province remained cold and partly cloudy.

Rain was recorded in Chitral, Kohistan, Bajaur, Dir, and Swat, while snowfall covered the mountainous areas of Chitral and Swat.

The heaviest snowfall was reported in Kalam, where 17 inches were recorded. Malam Jabba received two inches, while Chitral recorded one inch. The lowest temperatures were also noted in these areas, with Parachinar at -4°C, Malam Jabba at -2°C, and Kalam at -1°C.

With more rain and snowfall expected in the coming days, authorities have advised residents in affected areas to take necessary precautions.

Moreover, Punjab is set to experience dry and sunny weather over the next three days, with no rain in the forecast, according to the Meteorological Department.

Morning temperatures will remain cool, while afternoons are expected to be mild across most cities.

Murree will be the coldest location, with temperatures dropping to -2°C at night. The humidity level in the hill station stands at 57%. Meanwhile, major urban centres, including Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan, will see minimum temperatures between 8°C and 11°C.

In southern Punjab, Bahawalpur will have the highest humidity at 94%, with temperatures ranging between 8°C and 11°C. Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan will experience similar conditions, with daytime highs reaching 10°C.

Rawalpindi, Attock, and Chakwal will see cooler mornings, with minimum temperatures hovering between 5°C and 7°C. Jhelum and Sargodha will have slightly warmer conditions, with lows of 8°C to 10°C.

The Met Office has predicted clear skies for all major cities, with no significant changes expected in weather patterns through Friday. Residents can expect continued dry conditions with cool mornings and sunny afternoons.