ISLAMABAD: A westerly weather system is expected to enter Balochistan late Monday night and bring widespread winter rain and snowfall to large parts of the country over the coming days, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in its latest forecast.
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According to the Met Office, the westerly wave will approach western regions on December 29, strengthen on December 30 and is likely to grip the upper parts of the country by December 31. The system is expected to persist until the morning of January 2, 2026.
Under the influence of this weather pattern, rain with snowfall over hilly areas is forecast in several districts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Zhob, Harnai, Kalat, Barkhan, Loralai, Musakhel and Sibi. Southern and western districts such as Turbat, Gwadar, Jiwani, Lasbela, Kech, Awaran, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk, Kharan and Chagai are also expected to receive rain from tonight until December 31.
The Met Office said isolated light rain or drizzle is likely in parts of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Larkana, Kashmore, Thatta and Badin on December 30.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rainfall accompanied by moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in upper and central districts from December 30 to January 1. These include Chitral, Swat, Dir, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar and surrounding areas.
Rain with moderate snowfall is forecast for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir from December 30 to January 2, while Murree and the Galliyat region are also likely to receive rain and snow during the same period.
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Isolated rainfall is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, parts of Punjab and southern districts on December 31 and January 1. The PMD has warned of possible landslides and avalanches in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, adding that daytime temperatures are likely to fall further after the wet spell.