Rain, wind, thunderstorm to lash Pakistan this weekend, PMD warns of landslides, hailstorms and temperature plunge

ISLAMABAD, Mar 13 (APP):A westerly weather system is set to sweep across large parts of Pakistan from Friday night, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned, unleashing widespread rain-wind-thunderstorm, snowfall over high mountains and isolated hailstorms that are expected to persist through early next week.

The PMD said a westerly wave is likely to approach the northwestern parts of the country on Saturday evening and is expected to persist until Monday morning.

Under the influence of this system, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with chances of moderate rain-wind-thunderstorm and snowfall over high mountains, along with isolated hailstorms, is expected in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Khyber, Mohmand, Peshawar, Bannu, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bajaur, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu and Dera Ismail Khan from Friday night to Sunday morning.

Similar weather conditions are also expected in parts of Balochistan including Zhob, Barkhan, Chaman and Ziarat, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the same period.

Rain-wind-thunderstorm with isolated hailstorms is also forecast in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan with occasional gaps from Friday night to Sunday morning.

The Met Office warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, while lightning strikes may also occur at isolated places during the forecast period.

Daytime temperatures are likely to decrease by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius in the upper parts of the country during the period.

The PMD added that another western disturbance is likely to approach the western parts of the country on Monday night, signalling that unsettled weather conditions may continue well into next week.

Tourists have been advised to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel in hilly areas, while farmers were urged to manage their crops in accordance with the prevailing weather conditions.