RAWALPINDI: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced light rain on Thursday evening, lowering temperatures to 3°C and causing slushy conditions on the roads. Meanwhile, the hill station of Murree received snowfall late Thursday, prompting authorities to issue a travel advisory for tourists and residents.
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The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that a strong westerly wave is affecting much of the country and is expected to continue in upper regions until Friday. Rain with wind and thunderstorms, along with snowfall over hills, is expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and upper Punjab.
Snow fall in Murree. Clearance operation underway. A lady officer Shaheera Naveed XEN Mechanical is leading the operation. Shabash ! pic.twitter.com/B98TJoZR0W
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 22, 2026
Heavy Snowfall in Murree on standing and strict instructions by @MaryamNSharif entire machinery of CnW at work, on site to check the visitors arent facing any issues due to snowfall @SohaibBherthMPA and his team are on foot in this weather just to make sure all are safe
Great… pic.twitter.com/Sb3WSKzkpi— Shirmeen Khurram (@KhurramShirmeen) January 22, 2026
Heavy rain and snow could also lead to road closures, flash flooding in local nullahs, and landslides or avalanches in hilly areas, including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, and Rawalakot.
Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi directed officials to spread salt on roads to prevent slipperiness and urged visitors to stick to designated routes. The City Traffic Police Murree issued guidelines advising tourists to check brakes, tyres, and lights before travel. Tyre chains are mandatory on slippery roads, and the use of mobile phones while driving is strictly prohibited. Visitors were warned against double parking, taking selfies on roads, or stopping vehicles at unsafe spots.
Read More: Authorities on high alert in Murree as snowfall begins
The rain in Rawalpindi also disrupted daily life, particularly affecting pedestrians and motorcycle riders, and reduced business activity in main markets. However, food shops, especially those selling fried fish and soups, saw increased sales due to the cold. Authorities continue to monitor the weather closely to ensure public safety.