RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast another spell of rain and snowfall in northern Pakistan from Saturday night to Monday morning. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has urged provincial and district authorities to make necessary preparations.
According to PMD, a westerly wave is expected to hit northwestern regions on the evening of March 14 and continue until March 16 morning. This system may bring partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with moderate rain, wind, thunderstorms, snowfall in high mountain areas, and isolated hailstorms. Affected districts include Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Khyber, Mohmand, Peshawar, Bannu, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bajaur, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu, D.I. Khan, Zhob, Barkhan, Chaman, Ziarat, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.
Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with possible hail are also expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, and nearby areas, with occasional breaks in rainfall.
Another western disturbance may approach western Pakistan on the night of March 17. PMD warned of possible landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, as well as isolated lightning strikes. Tourists are advised to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel. Daytime temperatures in northern regions are expected to drop by 3–4°C. Farmers have been advised to adjust their crop management accordingly.
Meanwhile, NDMA also noted the possibility of isolated hailstorms across parts of the country between Saturday evening and Monday morning.