The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a comprehensive weather alert predicting rain, thunderstorms, snowfall, and widespread fog across multiple regions of the country as a shallow western disturbance approaches.
According to PMD, the weather system is expected to reach western Pakistan on the night of December 12, triggering light to moderate rain-thunderstorms and snowfall over the hills in key northern and western areas from December 13 to 15.
Regions Expected to Receive Rain & Snowfall
Under this system, rain and snowfall are likely in:
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner
- Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir
- Balochistan: Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noshki
Partly cloudy weather with light rain or thunderstorms is expected in tribal districts including Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, and Waziristan on December 14 or 15.
Light Rain & Drizzle in Major Cities
The forecast also includes:
- Drizzle in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and the Potohar region
- Light rain or snowfall in Murree and Galliyat
Dense Fog Expected
PMD has warned of moderate to dense fog likely to develop over:
- Plain areas of Punjab
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Upper Sindh
from the nights of December 12 to 16, potentially affecting transportation and visibility.
Another Weather System Coming
A second western disturbance is expected to impact the western and upper regions of Pakistan from December 19, suggesting continued cold and wet conditions.
Coldest Winter Expected Due to La Niña
Earlier in October, the Intersector Coordination Group reported that Pakistan may face one of its coldest winters in decades due to the La Niña climate pattern — a phenomenon caused by abnormal cooling of Pacific Ocean waters.
This could lead to harsher winter conditions, particularly in mountainous regions of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, where communities already affected by flooding may experience additional strain.
