Met office: Westerly system to keep bringing rain, snow to north through Wed

Pakistan’s National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC) says a persistent westerly weather system will continue influencing the country’s upper regions through Wednesday, keeping temperatures low and bringing spells of rain, thunderstorms and snowfall in hilly areas.

In its daily outlook, the NWFC said the system remains active over northern parts of the country. It forecast intermittent rain and thunderstorms for upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, with heavier precipitation and moderate to heavy snowfall possible at isolated locations.

The agency also predicted cloudy conditions with scattered rain and gusty winds in parts of lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Punjab and northern Balochistan, while much of the rest of the country is expected to remain cold and dry.

The forecast noted very low temperatures across several northern locations, with readings dropping below freezing in multiple areas. The NWFC advised tourists to be cautious and to avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period, particularly in mountainous destinations and valley routes where snowfall is expected.

It warned that rain and snow could trigger landslides and avalanches in vulnerable high-altitude regions of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

The National Highways and Motorways Police also issued travel guidance for those using routes such as the Murree Expressway during snowfall, urging drivers to exercise care and follow safety instructions. The advisory referenced ongoing snow-clearing work shown in videos shared on social media.

For Karachi, the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast cold and dry weather over the next 24 hours, with temperatures expected to dip into single digits overnight. The Met Office cited a minimum of 12°C recorded earlier in the day and indicated humidity and light easterly winds in the city.