KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall across large parts of the country from mid-next week, as a shallow westerly wave approaches the upper regions and gradually strengthens, gripping most areas from January 21. According to the PMD’s, the weather system is expected to enter the upper parts of the country on January 16 and persist until January 19, with increased intensity from January 20 onward. Under its influence, rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms, along with light to moderate snowfall, is likely in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the evening or night of January 16 until January 19, with intermittent breaks. The affected areas include Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan; Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh and Haveli in Kashmir; and Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur and Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Light rain and snowfall is also expected in Murree, Galliyat and surrounding areas from January 18 to 20. From January 20 to 23, widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms are forecast in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, the Potohar region, and several districts of Punjab, including Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Faisalabad, and divisions of Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur. Similar conditions are expected in Peshawar, Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Divisions.Heavy snowfall is anticipated in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Haveli and Rawalakot from the night of January 20 to January 23. In Balochistan, rain and thunderstorms are expected on January 21 and 22 in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gwadar, Jiwani, Lasbela, Kech, Awaran, Chaghi, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk and Kharan. Moderate to heavy snowfall is also likely in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai and Zhob during this period. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Naushero Feroze, Kashmore, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas and Ghotki, on January 22 and 23 with occasional gaps. The PMD has warned that heavy snowfall may lead to road closures and slippery conditions in mountainous and hilly regions such as Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, and parts of Balochistan from the night of January 21 to January 23. There is also a possibility of landslides and avalanches in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026