After an inordinate delay that sparked concerns about a possible drought, the upper parts of the country finally received rain and snow, causing temperatures to drop below freezing in several areas.
Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, as well as snowfall in mountainous regions, was recorded across most upper and central parts of the country.
The highest rainfall was recorded in the Golra area of Islamabad at 70mm, followed by Narowal (48mm), Gujranwala (47mm), Murree (23mm), and Lahore (22mm). In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Dir Bala received 56mm of rain, Cherat 46mm, Bacha Khan Airport 38mm, and Peshawar 35mm.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Kotli and Rawalakot recorded 28mm, while Quetta received 5mm of rain.
In Murree, a popular tourist resort, an unexpected spell of snow blanketed the region, catching local administrations off guard. The snowfall sent Rawalpindi and Murree's district authorities scrambling to manage the situation.
Meanwhile, tourists in Murree rejoiced at the sudden snowfall. The scenic town, along with its streets and rooftops, was covered in a white blanket, drawing crowds to Mall Road, where visitors delighted in the winter wonderland.
In Rawalpindi, the long-awaited rainfall after four months of dry weather refreshed the city. The overnight downpour cleared blocked drains in various neighbourhoods and increased water levels in Rawal Dam, Khanpur Dam, and Simly Dam, alleviating concerns about water shortages in the summer.
Wasa Director Umar Farooq described the rain as a "blessing," saying it had mitigated the risk of a water crisis in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The rain is likely to have positive effects on agriculture, benefiting wheat crops, seasonal fruits, and vegetables.
The Kaghan Valley and hilly areas of Abbottabad received heavy snowfall on Thursday. Rainfall continued in Balakot and surrounding areas. Snowfall reached up to six inches in Shogran, two inches in Kaghan, and up to one foot in Naran, bringing the return of chilly weather.
After the snowfall, temperatures in the upper regions dropped below freezing.
Following the snowfall, officials from the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) cleared the snow from Shogran Road using machinery and restored tourist access. Late into the night, snowfall continued in the Kaghan Valley, and rain persisted in the plains.
As a result, tourists from various cities across the country headed to Shogran and Kaghan, where they were seen enjoying the stunning snowy landscapes in different ways.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted intermittent rain and further snowfall in the mountains today. Following the prolonged dry spell, the recent rain and snowfall are expected to cause previously dried-up springs in the Kaghan Valley to begin flowing again.
Thandiani, Nathiagali, Ayubia and other hilly areas of Abbottabad district of the K-P also received the heaviest snowfall of the current winter season, resulting in below-freezing temperatures in Abbottabad and surrounding areas.
Snowfall, which began at Galiyat and Thandiani in the late evening of Wednesday and was falling at intervals till the late afternoon of Thursday. According to reports, one foot of snow was reported at Thandiani and at least nine inches in Galiyat.
In addition to Rescue 1122, snow-removing staff of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) and Galiyat police were present to clear the main Abbottabad to Murree Road. The road was cleared by the GDA and Rescue 1122.
Following the season's first snowfall in Shangla district of the K-P, the valley has been blanketed in a white layer of snow. After heavy rainfall, snowfall hit Alpuri, the district headquarters, and the surrounding mountainous regions, bringing icy winds and a return of the harsh winter cold.
The intensity of the cold has significantly increased. The rainfall that began on Wednesday evening turned into snowfall overnight. More than two feet of snow was recorded in the higher mountain ranges of Shangla, while light snowfall was observed in various residential areas.
Light snowfall was also reported in Alpuri, Lilownai, and Kana, while Shangla Top and Yakh Tangai Top received up to six inches of snow. Upper mountainous areas such as Kandaw, Manei, and other high-altitude regions experienced up to one foot of snowfall
In Swabi district of the K-P, a house roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Colonel Sher Khan Kallay, injuring a mother and her two sons. The family was inside the house on Thursday night when the roof caved in, trapping three people under the debris.
The lowest temperatures were recorded in Leh (-8°C), Parachinar (-4°C), Bagrot and Gupis (-3°C), while Astore, Kalam, Malam Jabba, and Ziarat experienced -2°C. According to the PMD, the weather is expected to remain cold and dry in most parts of the country over the next 24 hours.
However, Balochistan may experience partly cloudy conditions, with strong winds, thunderstorms, and light snowfall in some mountainous areas during the evening and night.
Coastal areas of Sindh may see partly cloudy skies with light drizzle in some places. Light to moderate fog is also expected in northeastern Punjab during the morning hours. Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are forecasted to experience severely cold weather with partly cloudy skies.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ