Winter rain hits Lahore, Karachi as PMD warns of heavy rain and snow up north | The Express Tribune

The mercury dropped further in Lahore after the season’s first winter rain on Thursday with intermittent showers and a cold breeze while weather authorities issued a red alert for heavy rains and snowfall in northern parts of the country.

Rainfall began in several Lahore neighbourhoods, including Johar Town, Jail Road, Mall Road, Shadman, Qurtaba Chowk, and near the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Light showers and drizzle were also reported in Township and Green Town, while the city remained overcast with gusty winds, intensifying the winter chill.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab reported that several districts across the province received rainfall over the past 24 hours, with Multan recording the highest accumulation of 19mm.

The PDMA said that 13mm of rain was recorded at Multan airport. Other cities reported the following rainfall: Murree 8mm, and Sargodha and Chakwal 7mm each.

In Lahore, light to moderate rain fell across various localities, with a maximum of 6mm. Hail was also reported in some parts of the city.

Rainfall in Rawalpindi included 5mm at Kacheri, 4mm at Shamsabad, and 3mm at Perodhai. Light showers ranging from 1 to 3mm were also recorded in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Jhang, and Layyah.

The PDMA has advised residents to exercise caution as scattered showers may continue in parts of the province.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that heavy rain and snowfall may lead to road closures and slippery conditions in mountainous regions, including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, and parts of Azad Kashmir, including Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, and Rawalakot.

Authorities cautioned that the ongoing weather system could trigger flash flooding in local streams and nullahs across upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The risk of landslides and avalanches remains high in many areas. Tourists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise extreme caution.

According to the PMD, a strong westerly wave is affecting most parts of the country and is expected to persist in upper regions. Widespread intermittent rain, wind, and thunderstorms — with snowfall over hills — are forecast for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and upper and central Punjab. Moderate to heavy rain and snow may occur in higher elevations.

Cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the country.

Over the past 24 hours, scattered rain and thunderstorms were recorded in K-P, Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh. Significant rainfall was reported in Parachinar (88 millimetres), Jacobabad and Sukkur (10mm each), Khuzdar (12mm) and Bhakkar (9mm). Snowfall of up to two inches was recorded in Kalam, Quetta, and Parachinar.

The coldest temperatures recorded included minus 11 degrees Celsius in Leh, minus 5 degrees in Gupis, Skardu, Bagrote, and Parachinar, and minus 4 degrees in Kalam.