KEY POINTS
- Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts heavy northern snowfall and nationwide rain from January 25-27 due to an incoming westerly wave.
- Key tourist and mountainous areas face high risks of road blockades, avalanches, and landslides, prompting travel advisories.
- Major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar are expected to receive significant wet weather and thunderstorms.
- The alert comes as the Pakistan Army continues ongoing relief operations in areas already affected by recent severe snowfall.
ISLAMABAD: A major winter weather system bringing heavy snowfall to the north and widespread rain and thunderstorms across the country is forecast to strike from Sunday night (January 25) until Tuesday (January 27), according to a fresh alert issued Friday by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
According to PMD, a fresh westerly wave is expected to enter western Balochistan on January 25 (Sunday night), intensifying and spreading across the upper parts of the country by January 26. This system is predicted to bring significant precipitation, thunderstorms, and plummeting temperatures nationwide.
The PMD’s forecast outlines extensive impacts:
Balochistan & Upper Sindh: Rain-wind/thunderstorms are expected in Quetta, Zhob, Gawadar, and other western/central districts of Balochistan from Sunday night into Monday. Upper Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana) may also receive rain on Monday.
Northern Areas & Punjab: From Monday through Tuesday, rain, wind, thunderstorms, and snowfall, with a few heavy falls, are predicted across Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam), and most of Punjab.
Major cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Sialkot are included in the advisory for wet weather.
Major Disruptions and Public Advisories
The weather system carries significant risks, prompting urgent advisories:
Travel Disruptions: Heavy snowfall is likely to block or make roads extremely slippery in key tourist and mountainous areas, including Murree, Galliyat, Naran, Kaghan, Swat, Kalam, Skardu, Hunza, and Quetta division from Monday to Tuesday.
Natural Hazards: Increased potential for landslides and avalanches in the hilly areas of KP, GB, and Kashmir.
Public Caution: Tourists and the general public are strongly advised to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected hill stations during this period. All relevant authorities have been urged to remain on high alert.
Army Continues Relief Operations
The forecast comes as the Pakistan Army continues large-scale rescue and relief activities in areas already hit by recent snowfall, including Murree, Swat, Kalam, Mohmand, Tirah Valley, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) update, troops are actively clearing blocked roads, ensuring traffic flow, and have rescued stranded people and vehicles, shifting them to safety. The army is providing essential relief in the form of food, shelter, and warm clothing, with special care arrangements for children, women, the elderly, and the disabled. Rescue teams remain deployed for continuous monitoring and emergency response.
Local communities have expressed appreciation for the military’s swift humanitarian assistance.
