Islamabad, March 3, 2024 – The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a weather advisory predicting thundershowers in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) on Monday, March 4, 2024.
As the country braces for a shift in weather patterns, the PMD has outlined a synoptic situation with a westerly wave impacting the upper regions.
According to the weather forecast for Monday, March 4, 2024, the PMD anticipates cold and dry conditions prevailing in most parts of the country, with very cold weather expected in the upper regions. However, a significant change is expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan, where rain, accompanied by wind and thunderstorms, might be observed, with the possibility of light snowfall in the higher altitudes.
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, the weather forecast indicated similar conditions in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with the likelihood of snowfall over the hills in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad, and the Potohar region. In contrast, the rest of the country is expected to experience cold and dry weather.
The current synoptic situation, as reported by the PMD, involves a westerly wave influencing the upper parts of Pakistan. Over the past 24 hours, this weather pattern has led to rain, wind, thunderstorms, and even snowfall over the mountains in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and upper/central Punjab. At some isolated locations, heavy rainfall and hailstorms were reported.
The recorded rainfall in millimeters from various regions is as follows:
• Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Malam Jabba 47, Pattan 37, Dir (Lower 34, Upper 21), Kakul 30, Drosh 29, Balakot 24, Mir Khani 17, Saidu Sharif, Chitral 13, Cherat, Takht Bhai 05, D. I. Khan (City 04, A/P 01), Parachinar 03, Bacha Khan (A/P) 02, Peshawar (City, A/P 01).
• Punjab: Sialkot (City 44, A/P 39), Narowal 31, Murree 13, Jhelum 07, Mangla 06, Islamabad (Saidpur 06, Zero Point 05, Airport 03, Golra 02, Bokra 01), Kasur 05, Lahore (A/P 04, City 01), Rawalpindi (Chaklala, Shamsabad 04), Attock 04, Noorpur Thal 03, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad 01.
• Kashmir: Muzaffarabad (City 41, A/P 32), Rawalakot 27, Kotli 23, Garhi Dupatta 15.
• Gilgit-Baltistan: Chilas 31, Bunji 08, Gilgit 06, Astore 05, Gupis, and Skardu 01.
In terms of snowfall, the recorded figures in inches are as follows:
• Malamjabba 11, Mirkhani 03, Parachinar 01.
For those concerned about plummeting temperatures, the recorded lowest minimum temperatures (°C) include Leh, Kalat, Kalam at -08, Mir Khani, Quetta, Samungli at -05, Skardu at -04, Zhob at -03, and Gupis, Bagrote, Hunza, and Murree at -02.
As the meteorological conditions evolve, residents in the affected areas are advised to stay informed through official updates and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
