ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department has forecast rain and dust storm snowfall in the country’s northern and central regions from Saturday as a fresh westerly weather system approaches.
The new wave is expected to last till May 5 and is likely to bring a drop in temperatures.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, dusty thunderstorms and rainfall are forecast across a wide range of districts including Chitral, Swat, Dir, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, with isolated heavy downpours and hailstorms expected from the evening of May 2 to May 4.
In Punjab and Islamabad, similar weather conditions are likely to affect major cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Sialkot, as well as northern hill areas including Murree and the Galiyat region. Some southern districts may also experience rain-windstorms and hail on May 3 and 4.
In northern regions, Gilgit-Baltistan is expected to receive rain and thunderstorms across several valleys, including Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, and Astore, between May 2 and May 5. Similarly, Kashmir is likely to experience rain-wind activity with isolated heavy falls and hail in multiple districts during the same period.
Meanwhile, windstorms and thunderstorms are also forecast for parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, and Chaman from May 2 to May 4. In upper Sindh, dust thunderstorms are expected on May 2 and 3.
Possible impacts and advisory
The Met Office, in its advisory, said the weather system may damage weak infrastructure such as electric poles, billboards, and solar panels. Authorities have also warned of possible landslides in vulnerable areas of northern Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.
Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Punjab have been advised to take precautions to protect standing crops from potential hail and strong winds. The heatwave conditions prevailing in plain areas are expected to ease during this weather spell.
Tourists and travelers have been urged to avoid unnecessary movement and exercise extra caution, particularly in mountainous and high-risk areas.
