Islamabad, Rawalpindi Weather Update Today; More rains expected

ISLAMABAD – Residents of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several northern areas are advised to prepare for another round of turbulent weather on Thursday, with forecasts predicting intermittent rains, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warns that a westerly wave hovering over central and upper regions of the country will drive the unstable conditions.

Key Forecast Details:

• Thursday’s Outlook: The twin cities, central/upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Kashmir may experience rain, wind gusts, and hill snow. Heavy downpours and hailstorms are likely in isolated parts of Pothohar and northeast Punjab.
• Weekend Shift: Dry, cold weather will dominate most regions on Friday and Saturday, with shallow to moderate fog expected in northeast Punjab.
• Temperature Drop: Islamabad’s lows will hover between 6°C–8°C on Friday and Saturday, while Rawalpindi may see 9°C–11°C on Friday and 10°C–12°C on Saturday.

Travel Advisories Issued for Hill Stations:

Heavy snowfall could disrupt traffic and create hazardous road conditions in Murree, Galliyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, and other northern areas. Authorities cautioned tourists about potential landslides and avalanches in KP, GB, Kashmir, Murree, and Galliyat.

Recent Weather Activity:

Over the past 24 hours, rain and hill snow battered parts of the country. Notable rainfall totals included:

• KP: Cherat (40mm), Peshawar (34–35mm), Malam Jabba (30mm + 8 inches of snow).
• Punjab/Islamabad: Golra (33mm), Rawalpindi’s Bokra (31mm), Attock (22mm), Lahore (17mm).
• Kashmir/Balochistan: Kotli (11mm), Quetta (9mm).

Cold Snap Grips Northern Areas:

Leh recorded Pakistan’s lowest temperature at -8°C, followed by Parachinar (-4°C) and Astore, Kalam, and Ziarat (-2°C). Islamabad and Rawalpindi registered morning lows of 8°C and 10°C, respectively.

Residents in affected zones are urged to stay updated on weather alerts and avoid non-essential travel to vulnerable areas.