Change in weather: Rain and snow bring a second spell of cold

Growers and agronomists say the downpour will aid the wheat crop.

GILGIT/ PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ HYDERABAD/ LAHORE:

The widespread intermittent rain with snowfall over hills in northern parts of the country continued for second consecutive day on Monday, bringing down temperature to below zero-degree Celsius in some areas.

During the last 24 hours the lowest temperature (-10 degree Celsius ) was recorded in Kurrum Agency’s Parachinar area while the temperatures in K-P’s Kalam and Malam Jabba areas were respectively  -9 and -8 degree centigrade.



The rain and snowfall in the K-P’s Shangla area paralysed routine life as various link roads in the district were closed due to the snowfall.

Around 8 feet of snow was recorded in Spin Ghar while two feet were recorded in Shangla Top and Yakh Tangay. The Yakh Tangay to Poran Road and Chakisar Road closed due to heavy snowfall. Snow is being removed from Swat-Bisham road to clear the road for traffic.

Despite witnessing the lowest recorded temperatures, the K-P’s Chitral district did not receive much snowfall or rain on Monday. However, Lowari Tunnel has been closed for five days due to snowfall.

Upper Sindh also received rains due to which the weather turned pleasant and colder.  In Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur and Larkana, the first winter shower was very intense, resulting in accumulation of water on streets and suspension of power supply.

Most cities and towns of upper Sindh including Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Aqil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Khairpur, Noshehro Feroze, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Dadu received first rainfall of the season, due to which the prevailing dry cold weather turned pleasant. This was the second rainfall in the Upper Sindh.

The PMD has forecast that rain with snowfall over the hills including Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, the K-P, upper Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir will continue for the next 24 hours.

The PMD Director Research Dr Ghulam Rasool said: “This spell will continue for the next two days in Punjab’s Potohar region and will help wheat and other crops tremendously.”

“A western disturbance is affecting upper and central parts of the country and likely to persist till Tuesday night which will cause shower in the Potohar region, central Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The PMD is anticipating scattered rain with snowfall over the hills in Islamabad, northeast Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir over the next 48 hours, whereas cold and dry weather is expected in other parts of the country.

Rain with snowfall over the hills is also expected at isolated places in Balochistan (Quetta, Zhob and Kalat divisions), South Punjab (Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan divisions) and upper Sindh (Sukkur, and Larkana divisions).

Good for wheat crop

Growers and agronomists welcomed the shower and snowfall as it will have positive effect in wheat growing areas of the country.

“Though rain is not sufficient, it will help Rabi crops including wheat particularly in arid areas of Potohar region,” said Pakistan Agriculture Research Centre (PARC) Director Water Dr Qurban.

He said due to long dry spell, people were concerned about wheat crop. “However, recent downpours will help wheat crop to a large extent,” he said.

Meanwhile, one person, Farmanullah, was killed and seven persons including a woman were injured in the Poran village of Alloch, Abbottabad area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), when roof of a house collapsed.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2015.