Karachi likely to receive first winter rain tomorrow: PMD
by Shawwala AslamKARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast light rain in Karachi tomorrow as a westerly wind system is expected to affect the port city from Tuesday to Wednesday.
The weather department said light rain is likely in the metropolis on the night of December 30, while the humidity level stands at 76%. It said light winds are blowing from the north-east.
According to the weather department, Karachi’s maximum temperature on Monday (today) is likely to remain between 26 degrees Celsius and 28°C.
Over the next 24 hours, the PMD said that the weather is likely to remain dry during the day and cold at night.
In a broader weather advisory, the Met Office said a westerly wave is likely to approach western parts of the country from tonight and strengthen from December 30.
The system is expected to grip most upper and central parts on December 31 and persist in upper areas until the morning of January 2, 2026.
Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind or thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is expected in parts of Balochistan from tonight to December 31 with occasional gaps.
The affected areas include Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gwadar, Jiwani, Lasbela, Kech, Awaran, Chagai, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk, and Kharan.
For Sindh, the PMD said isolated light rain and drizzle are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Thatta, Badin and surrounding areas on December 30.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind and thunderstorm, with moderate to a few heavy snowfalls in upper areas, are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Waziristan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Kohat from December 30 to January 1 with occasional gaps.
For Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Met Office forecast rain, wind, and thunderstorms with moderate snowfalls in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar in GB, and Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur in Kashmir from the evening of December 30 to the morning of January 2, with occasional gaps.
In Punjab and Islamabad, rain and thunderstorms with snowfall are likely in Murree and the Galliyat from the evening of December 30 to the morning of January 2 with occasional gaps.
The PMD said isolated rain and thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the Potohar region, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura and Gujrat from December 31 to January 1.
Similar conditions are expected in Mianwali, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, Jhang and Sahiwal on December 31.
The Met Office warned snowfall may cause road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, the Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch and Haveli from December 30 to January 2.
The weather department cautioned about the possibility of landslides or avalanches in hilly areas of upper KP, GB and AJK during the period.
Tourists were advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the wet spell.
The PMD also said fog conditions are likely to subside in central and southern parts of Punjab and upper Sindh during the wet spell, while daytime temperatures are likely to drop further in the coming week, particularly after the spell.