KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, wind, thunderstorms, and snowfall in various parts of the country during the coming week due to an approaching westerly weather system. According to the forecast, a westerly wave is expected to enter western parts of the country on the night of December 29 and strengthen from December 30. The system is likely to affect most upper and central regions on December 31 and persist in upper areas until the morning of January 2, 2026. Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with snowfall over hills are expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gwadar, Jiwani, Lasbela, Kech, Awaran, Chagai, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk, and Kharan from December 29 night to December 31, with occasional gaps. In Sindh, isolated light rain or drizzle is expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Thatta, Badin, and surrounding areas on December 30. Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with moderate to heavy snowfall in upper areas are likely 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. Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with moderate snowfall are expected in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar, as well as in Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from December 30 evening to January 2 morning. Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with snowfall are likely in Murree and the Galliyat from December 30 night to January 2 morning. Isolated rain and thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Potohar region, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Gujrat from December 31 to January 1. Rain is also forecast in Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, Jhang, and Sahiwal on December 31. The PMD warned that snowfall may cause road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli from December 30 night to January 2 morning. There is also a risk of landslides and avalanches in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, and tourists have been advised to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel. Fog conditions are expected to ease in central and southern Punjab and upper Sindh during the wet spell, while daytime temperatures are likely to drop further across the country, particularly after the weather system passes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025