Northern areas of Pakistan experienced unusual snowfall in summer; Rain and snow disrupted life in KP, GB and AJK in March-April.
Haider Raza, Director of Nature-Based Solutions/North at WWF-Pakistan, told iVerify that rain and snow after March 21 in northern areas was not unusual. Screenshot of the video
On Monday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a high-level heatwave alert warning that large areas of southern and central Pakistan would likely experience dangerously high temperatures between May 19 and 26. Particularly in southern parts of the country, temperatures have risen well above seasonal norms during April and May, frequently exceeding 44-46 degrees Celsius.
According to the latest NDMA advisory, temperatures were expected to remain exceptionally high for three to five consecutive days in several districts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. He added that rising humidity in lower Sindh and dry interior conditions in Punjab and Balochistan could further intensify heat stress.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a Glacial Lake Outburst (Glof) flood alert for northern areas. According to the weather advisory, a moderate westerly wave had entered the upper regions of the country and was currently affecting parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. Intermittent rain, winds and thunderstorms with isolated heavy rainfall are likely over vulnerable mountain catchments during the current spell of weather.
In recent days, social media has been abuzz with videos showing snowfall in the mountainous north of Pakistan, including parts of GB and KP. The clips left many users surprised and wondering if snowfall this time of year was unusual. “Is there snow in GB even in this season?” one user asked, while another wondered, “Is it still snowing there?”
Sharing a video of Mansehra, an X user called the May snowfall a “miracle”.
what we found
If we look at the weather pattern, northern areas of Pakistan have experienced snowfall during summer. Rain and snowfall disrupted daily life in parts of KP, GB and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during the months of March and April, according to media reports. Aaj News and Sunrise.
In Britain, snow avalanches near the Khunjerab Pass blocked the Karakoram Highway and left tourists stranded. Rain-triggered landslides also blocked access roads and damaged infrastructure in several other areas, disrupting water supply channels, electricity transmission, internet and mobile services.
Mohammad Hasan, a resident of Skardu, said snowfall on the mountain peaks occurred intermittently. “I visited the Deosai plains two days ago. There was at least three inches of snow there,” he added. Jamil Nagri, SunriseThe correspondent in Britain also confirmed the same.
Meanwhile, Abbottabad and its surrounding areas experienced intermittent rain and snow, with temperatures falling below freezing. A couple who visited the northern areas in early May corroborated the same. Asad Mehmood Lodhi, the additional deputy commissioner (relief) of Mansehra, told iVerify Pakistan that the area received higher snowfall this year during April.
These temperatures were already predicted by the PMD. According to a Dawn report on May 2, the Met Office had forecast widespread rain, windstorms and isolated heavy falls in GB and KP due to a westerly wave.
Research showed that snowfall in northern areas of Pakistan traditionally occurred from late November to February, with January generally experiencing the heaviest and most consistent snowfall. But in recent years there have been heavy snowfalls well into March, April and now May.
Last year there was also sudden snowfall and rain in Britain during the month of March.
According to a report from a GB-focused news outlet Pamir Timesthis temperature cycle was part of a broader climate change. “Global warming is altering seasonal cycles, sometimes causing milder winters and harsher spring cold snaps,” he said. The report also cites the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), noting that it had identified the Himalayas and the Karakoram as particularly vulnerable to such anomalies due to their fragile ecosystems and rapidly changing glaciers.
Haider Raza, Director of Nature-Based Solutions/North at WWF-Pakistan, told iVerify that rain and snow after March 21 in northern areas was not unusual. “However, its intensity has increased in recent years, probably due to the effects of climate change and other anthropogenic activities,” he added.
Climate change expert Fatima Yamin said climate change had caused a massive transformation or shift in Pakistan’s seasonal weather patterns.
“Rainfall patterns are also changing in frequency and amount. This is why northern areas are experiencing longer summers with above-normal rainfall, while some areas will also experience below-normal rainfall,” he added.
Conclusion
Yes, northern areas of Pakistan experienced snowfall in summer.
The weather had been predicted by the Meteorological Office. In recent years, heavy snowfall has been recorded well into March and April in the north due to the effects of climate change.
This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan, a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.
