Pakistan is bracing for intense rainfall and mountain snowfall over the coming days, affecting northern, western, and coastal regions.
A western weather system entering Balochistan is set to bring rain and snow across the province by December 20.
Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Qila Abdullah, and Qila Saifullah may experience heavy precipitation, while Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Musakhel, and Turbat could see intermittent showers. Coastal districts Keach, Gwadar, Jiwani, and Lasbela are likely to receive light rainfall.
Mountainous regions are expected to witness moderate snowfall. Rain and snow may impact Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Abbottabad, Haripur, and Mansehra. Intermittent showers are also possible in Buner, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, and Waziristan. In Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Kohat, rainfall could be accompanied by strong winds, thunder, and lightning.
Gilgit-Baltistan is likely to see intermittent rain and moderate snowfall until the morning of December 23.
Diamer, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar may face snowfall, with some locations expecting intense accumulation.
In Kashmir, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, and Hattian could see rain and snow, while strong winds and thunderstorms are likely in Bagh, Haveli, Sudhnoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur.
Rain is forecast in Punjab and Islamabad starting tomorrow evening. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Potohar, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Nurpur Thal, and Layyah may experience rainfall.
Murree and Galiyat could see snowfall combined with strong winds and thunderstorms. Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, and Gujranwala will have partly cloudy skies, while light showers are possible in Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Toba Tek Singh.
Sindh’s majority regions are expected to remain partly cloudy from December 20–22.
Snow and rain may block roads in Naran, Kaghan, Swat, Dir, and Kohistan. Travel disruptions are likely in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astor, Hunza, and Skardu, as well as Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli.
In Khanpur, dense fog has reduced visibility to near zero, heavily affecting traffic. National highways are impacted, and Motorway M5 (Multan to Rohri interchange) has been closed. Train schedules are also disrupted.
Authorities have urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel and to exercise caution, including the use of fog lights, if travel is unavoidable.
