Cold weather intensifies; rain, snowfall forecast up north

WEB DESK: A fresh spell of winter weather is set to grip large parts of the country on Sunday, with rain, strong winds and snowfall expected across northern and western regions, while cold and partly cloudy conditions will prevail elsewhere.

According to the latest forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), North and West Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Islamabad and the Potohar region are likely to receive rain accompanied by strong winds, with snowfall expected in mountainous areas. The rest of the country will experience cold and partly cloudy weather, while fog and smog are likely to develop in districts of eastern Punjab and upper Sindh.

Authorities warned that from tonight through adverse weather, landslides and snowfall may disrupt traffic in several hilly areas. Road closures and slippage are expected in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch and Haveli.

Going region be region, PMD said that in Islamabad, cold and partly cloudy conditions are expected on Sunday, with strong winds and snowfall likely in surrounding areas.

Across Punjab, rain with strong winds and thundershowers is forecast for Attock, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Noorpurthal and Layyah. Murree and the Galiyat region are expected to receive rain along with snowfall in the mountains. Light rain or drizzle may occur at a few locations, including Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Lahore and Multan, while fog and smog are likely during morning and night hours in southern and central districts such as Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, Kasur and Rahim Yar Khan.

In Sindh, most districts are expected to remain cold and dry, with partly cloudy conditions in the upper areas. Morning and nighttime fog is likely in Sukkur, Rohri, Shikarpur, Kashmore and surrounding regions.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will see cold and partly cloudy weather in most districts, while rain with strong winds and snowfall in the mountains is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad and adjoining areas. Several southern and central districts, including Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, may also receive rain.

In Balochistan, cold and partly cloudy weather is forecast for most districts, with the possibility of rain, thunderstorms and snowfall in mountainous areas such as Quetta, Ziarat, Kalat, Mastung, Zhob and Chaman.

Meanwhile, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to remain partly cloudy, with rain and strong winds likely, along with snowfall in higher elevations.

Authorities have advised travelers and residents in affected areas to exercise caution, particularly in mountainous regions where adverse weather may disrupt road travel.