People gather along a snow-covered area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
A cold snap hit much of the country after rain and snow hit a vast swath of land on Thursday.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain and heavy snowfall affected all provinces as well as northern regions, and 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 KP also experienced widespread and intermittent rain and snow in all major districts.
In Sindh, the weather turned cold and 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 the upper regions until Thursday.
Intermittent and widespread 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 at higher elevations.
On Friday (today), similar conditions are expected in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the country.
During the last 24 hours, scattered rain and thunderstorms were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. Significant rainfall was recorded 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 -11 degrees Celsius in Leh, -5 degrees in Gupis, Skardu, Bagrote and Parachinar, and -4 degrees in Kalam.
The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather alert.
It advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to high-altitude and snow-prone areas and to ensure the use of snow chains when travel is unavoidable.
Citizens are urged to take appropriate measures regarding heating, warm clothing and shelter, with special attention to protecting vulnerable populations, it added.
Local communities are advised to remain alert and strictly follow the advisories issued by relevant local authorities. The NDMA directed all provincial and district authorities to remain on high alert and ensure preparedness for snow removal operations, emergency response and timely restoration of essential services, including electricity and communications.
