Welcome rain coming amid cold wave forecast

Islamabad:The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast a welcome rainfall across the country from today (December 7) along with a cold wave.

According to it, a westerly wave is expected to bring strong winds, thunderstorms, and snowfall in the northern and hilly regions, with the cold wave continuing through to December 14. The PMD warned that the cold wave was expected to bring a sharp decrease in both daytime and night-time temperatures.

In northern and central regions, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, temperatures could fall by as much as 4-6 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average, while Balochistan and Sindh are likely to see temperatures drop by 5-7 degrees Celsius below normal. The cold conditions are also expected to bring gusty winds, with cold winds sweeping through Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of Punjab.

Frost formation is expected over the plains, particularly during the night and early morning hours. The PMD said rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by snowfall over higher altitudes, were likely to affect the northern regions of the country, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Shangla, and parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Neelum Valley from the night of December 7 through to the afternoon of December 8. More spells of moderate rain, along with thunderstorms and snow, are expected to continue intermittently until the night of December 10, with a further spell from December 10 to 11.

Light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are also expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between December 7 and 8. The PMD urged farmers to take precautions against frost, which, it warned, could impact crops and livestock.

It asked people to avoid prolonged exposure to the cold, particularly in windy conditions during the night and early morning, to prevent health problems. Travelers and tourists heading to mountainous areas were advised to stay updated on weather conditions and exercise caution, amid warning that snowfall and gusty winds could cause disruptions in high-altitude regions.

The PMD asked authorities in affected areas, especially in northern regions, to take necessary steps to mitigate any risks posed by the extreme cold, strong winds, and snowfall, and said it would continue monitoring the situation closely and provide updates.