Weather department warns of thunderstorms, heavy rains and snowfall

The National Weather Forecasting Center (NWFC) has issued a warning of heavy rains and snowfall in Pakistan’s northern regions, urging citizens to exercise caution while traveling.

The advisory, issued on Sunday, forecasts the westerly wave affecting western parts of the country and continuing to impact the upper regions for the next 36 to 48 hours.

In its daily weather outlook, the NWFC noted that cold and dry conditions are expected across most parts of Pakistan.

However, cloudy weather with rain, wind, and thunderstorms (along with snowfall in the hills) are likely to affect northern and northwestern Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and upper and central Punjab during the evening and night.

The center specifically warned of moderate to heavy snowfall, which could lead to road closures and slippery conditions in areas including Murree, Galliyat, Naran, Kaghan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Manshera, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli, from Sunday through Monday.

The forecast also highlighted the risk of landslides and avalanches in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, advising travelers and tourists in these mountainous regions to stay cautious.

This weather update follows last month’s rains, which brought some relief after a prolonged drought that severely impacted key crops, including wheat and potatoes.

According to the Pakistan Climate Change Ministry, rainfall between September 1 and January 15 was 40 percent below normal, with provinces like Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab experiencing deficits ranging from 42 to 52 percent.

The country is still recovering from the devastating flash floods triggered by torrential rains during the 2022 monsoon season. The floods, attributed to the impacts of climate change, resulted in over 1,700 deaths and caused damage worth $33 billion.