Met office predicted that a shallow westerly wave is likely to approach upper parts of the country from 16th January and may persist till 19th January and likely to strengthen from 20th January and grip most parts of the country from 21st January. Under the influence of this weather system:

• Rain-wind/thunderstorm with light to moderate snowfalls is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, Shigar), Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli), parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur and Bunner) from 16th (evening/night) to 19th January, with occasional gaps. While light rain/ snow is also expected in Murree, Galliyat and surroundings from 18th to 20th January.
• Widespread rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Potohar region, in districts of Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions and districts of Peshawar, Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan divisions from 20th to 23rd January with occasional gaps. Heavy snowfall is expected Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Haveli, Rawalakot from 20th (night) to 23rd January with occasional gaps.
• Rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Balochistan (Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gawadar, Jiwani, Lasbella, Kech, Awaran, Chaghi, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk and Kharan) on 21st and 22nd January and Sindh (Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Naushero Feroz, Kashmore, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirbad, Mirpurkhas and Ghotki) on 22nd & 23rd January with occasional gaps. Moderate to heavy snowfall in (Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob) during the period.

Possible Impacts and advises

• Heavy snowfall may cause road closure/ slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai and Zhob from 21st (night) to 23rd January.
• Possibility of the landslides/avalanche in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period.
• Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period.
• Fog condition is likely to diminish in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh during the wet spell.
• Day time temperatures are likely to drop significantly during the period.

For daily weather updates please visit: www.pmd.gov.pk, Pak Weather Application