Motorists advised to exercise caution during rain, snowfall forecast

Islamabad: National Highways and Motorway Police on Saturday advised motorists to exercise caution during the forecast of rain and snowfall during three days.

The National Highways and Motorway Police Spokesperson said Quetta-Zhob (N-50), Kalat-Chaman Highway (N-25) and Kuchlak-Amuslimbagh Section (N-50) have received heavy snowfall and heavy machinery and staff have been deployed to clear the roads.

He said National Highway Authority launched a salt sprinkling operation on highways to prevent icing at Kan Mehtarzai.

Earlier, Met Office informed that a westerly wave is likely to enter western parts on Saturday, and likely to grip upper parts on Sunday and may persist till Monday (afternoon).

Under the influence of this weather system:

Rain-wind/thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Chitral, Dir, Swat, Manshera, Haripur, Kohistan, Abbottabad from 28th (evening/night) to 30th January, while in Islamabad, Pothohar region, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Khushab, Mianwali, Sargodha, Karak, Peshawar, Charsada, Nowshera, Swabi, Buner, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan on 29th & 30th January.

Light to moderate rain-wind/thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected in Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Harnai, Qila Saifullah, Qillah Abdullah, Chamman, Pishin, Panjgur, Turbat, Khuzdar, Kalat and Makran coast on 28th (evening/night) & 29th January. Light rain is also expected in Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan during the period.

Possible Impacts:

Moderate to isolated heavy snowfall may disrupt and cause closure of roads in Murree, Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch and Haveli from 28th (night) to 30th January.

Landslides in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan may also occur during the forecast period.

Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious during the spell.

Rain will be beneficial for the standing crops particularly in Barani areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Temperatures are likely to fall (02-04) °C after the spell.