RAWALPINDI: The meteorological department has forecast torrential rain and heavy snowfall with windstorm/thunderstorm and isolated hailstorm in most parts of the country from February 29 to March 2.

It said heavy rainfall may generate flash floods/heavy snowfall and disrupt daily life in vulnerable areas. It said a strong westerly wave was likely to approach western parts on Feb 29 and may grip most parts of the country on March 1 and persist till March 2.

Under the influence of this weather system in Islamabad and Punjab, widespread heavy rain with windstorm/thunderstorm is expected in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum in Potohar region while in Punjab rain is expected in Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali and Bhakkar.

Heavy snowfall is also expected in Murree, Galliyat and surrounding areas. Rain-wind/thunderstorm also expected in Multan, Kot Addu, Layyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Khanpur, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar from Feb 29 to March 2. Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Balochistan, heavy rain with windstorm/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Chagi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Turbat, Kech, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, Ormara, Panjgur, Kharan, Noushki, Washuk, Mastung, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhel, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Ziarat, Quetta, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah from Feb 29 to March 1.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm/thunderstorm (heavy snowfall over the hills) is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Bajaur, Karak, Khyber, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan from Feb 29 to March 3.

In Sindh, rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas on Feb 29 to March 1.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm/thunderstorm and snowfall is expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Kotli and Mirpur from Feb 29 to March 3.

The weather advisory warned that heavy rainfall may cause flash flooding in nullahs of Gwadar, Ketch, Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Dalbandin, Khuzdar, Dera Ghazi Khan on Feb 29 and March 1 while heavy rainfall may cause flash flooding in hill torrents of KP, Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat and Islamabad/Rawalpindi on March 1 and March 2.

Tourists have been advised not to travel unnecessarily while farmers should remain cautious about their crops. It also advised authorities to remain alert and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation during the forecast period.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2024