People gather along a snow-covered area near the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
A cold wave swept across large parts of the country after rain and snow lashed a vast swath of land on Thursday.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain and heavy snowfall affected all provinces as well as the northern regions, as the National Disaster Management Authority asked citizens to take precautions.
Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, and Rawalakot experienced heavy rain and snowfall.
In Punjab, widespread intermittent rain and thunderstorms hit major cities, including Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Balochistan and K-P also experienced widespread intermittent rain and snow across all major districts.
In Sindh, weather turned cold, with Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana received light rains.
According to the PMD, a strong westerly wave is affecting most parts of the country and is expected to persist in upper regions through Thursday.
Widespread intermittent rain, wind, and thunderstorms – with snowfall over hills – are forecast for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and upper and central Punjab. Moderate to heavy rain and snow may occur in higher elevations.
On Friday (today), similar conditions are expected in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Punjab, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, while cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the country.
Over the past 24 hours, scattered rain and thunderstorms were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh. Significant rainfall was reported in Parachinar (88 millimeters), Jacobabad and Sukkur (10 millimeters each), Khuzdar (12 millimeters), and Bhakkar (9 millimeters). Snowfall of up to two inches was recorded in Kalam, Quetta, and Parachinar.
The coldest temperatures recorded included minus 11 degrees Celsius in Leh, minus 5 degrees in Gupis, Skardu, Bagrote, and Parachinar, and minus 4 degrees in Kalam.
The National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a weather alert.
It advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to high-altitude and snowfall-prone areas and to ensure the use of snow chains where travel is unavoidable.
Citizens are urged to make adequate arrangements for heating, warm clothing, and shelter, with particular attention to protecting vulnerable populations, it added.
Local communities are advised to remain vigilant and strictly follow advisories issued by relevant local authorities. The NDMA directed all provincial and district authorities to remain on high alert and ensure preparedness for snow clearance operations, emergency response, and timely restoration of essential services, including electricity and communications.
