The Met Office is also forecasting showers and thunderstorms in the higher parts of the country from March 9 to 12.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday warned that prevailing winds from Iran could carry pollutants into Pakistan and worsen air quality in parts of the country following recent developments in the neighboring country amid attacks by the United States and Israel.
Israeli warplanes attacked oil storage depots and refining facilities in Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Saturday. Huge fireballs and dense plumes of smoke rose over the city as joint US-Israeli airstrikes hit fuel storage facilities, setting huge fires and sending thick smoke across the Iranian capital.
In a press release issued today, the PMD said: “Due to the recent situation in Iran, winds may carry pollutants and deteriorate air quality in the western parts of the country.”
The Met Office also forecast showers and thunderstorms in upper parts of the country from March 9 to 12, as a westerly weather system approaches the region.
According to the PMD, a westerly wave is expected to reach western parts of Pakistan on Monday night and could persist until Thursday, bringing unsettled weather conditions to several northern areas.
Under the influence of the system, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with moderate rain, wind and thunderstorm, including occasionally heavy rain, is expected in districts such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battgram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur as well as parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from the afternoon of March 9 to March 12.
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Light rain and thunderstorm are also likely in Khyber, Mohmand, Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bajaur, Bannu, Waziristan, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu and Mianwali on March 10 and 11, the department said.
The PMD added that rain, wind and thunderstorm are expected in Islamabad, Pothohar region, Murree, Galliyat and surrounding areas from the night of March 9 to March 11, with occasional intervals.
The meteorological department further warned that hailstorms could occur at isolated places in Islamabad and other upper parts of the country during the forecast period.
