Snowfall likely to disrupt traffic in northern regions, says NDMA

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecast rain and snowfall in the country’s upper regions from December 13 to 18, and has issued an advisory in this regard.

According to the NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), rain and snowfall are expected in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kohistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Balochistan. A westerly wind system is likely to affect northern and western Pakistan between December 13 and 15.

The advisory says the expected weather conditions may lead to dense fog, with light to moderate rain in the plains and snowfall in mountainous and upper areas.

Heavy snowfall is likely in Kohistan, the upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the higher areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, and the mountainous regions of Azad Kashmir.

The NDMA warned that snowfall could disrupt traffic on mountain roads and may lead to road closures at some locations. Light rain is expected in Quetta, Ziarat and parts of north-western Balochistan, while snowfall is forecast in hilly areas.

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From December 16 to 18, the intensity of snowfall is expected to decrease, although cold conditions will persist. Slippery roads due to snowfall may continue to affect traffic flow in upper areas, with intermittent light snowfall likely at several locations in the northern regions.

The NEOC has urged tourists and travellers to avoid unnecessary travel to mountainous areas and to follow instructions issued by local authorities.

The NDMA said it is providing advance alerts to relevant institutions regarding the expected weather conditions and potential risks.