- PMD says Balochistan lashing with rain, isolated hail.
- KP hills to see snowfall; thunderstorms in several districts.
- Travelers advised planning Eid trips with the weather in mind.
A westerly weather system is expected to unleash widespread rain across Pakistan from March 17 to 20, with Karachi and other parts of Sindh set to receive downpours during the Eid ul Fitr holiday period, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The PMD has issued a detailed weather advisory indicating that widespread rain, windy conditions and occasional thunderstorms are expected to move across most of the country from the evening of March 17.
Although the weather will be particularly active, authorities are watching and have shared timely guidance to help everyone stay safe and prepared.
The weather change is being driven by a westerly wave, which is a naturally occurring seasonal weather system that is expected to enter western parts of the country on the evening or night of March 17.
It is expected to spread gradually over most of Pakistan by March 18 and subside by March 20, bringing with it some refreshing but unsettled days.
Balochistan will be among the first regions to experience the weather change, with rainy and windy conditions accompanied by occasional thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur and surrounding areas.
The spells are announced from March 17 in the evening to March 20 in the morning with periodic breaks.
Sindh will see its share of rainy and cloudy weather with occasional thunder on March 18 and 19 covering Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta and several other districts.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will see rainy and windy weather with thundery intervals and snowfall over the higher hills over a wide area including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Waziristan and many nearby districts. Isolated hail is possible in a few places during this time.
Across Punjab and Islamabad, the capital region along with Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha, Sahiwal and a number of other cities and towns can expect rainy, windy periods with isolated hail from the night of March 17 to the morning of March 20.
South Punjab, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, is expected to receive similar conditions on March 18 and 19.
Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir will also experience rainy and cloudy weather with thundershowers and snowfall over higher elevations.
The areas including Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Diamir, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Poonch, Mirpur and Kotli are included in the forecast from the evening of March 17 onwards, with a few heavier spells possible, especially over Kashmir.
The Met Office has highlighted a few areas worth keeping in mind during this period. People in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir should be aware of the possibility of landslides on slopes and mountain roads.
Lightning can occur in isolated locations during thunderstorms, so staying indoors during heavy rain is a sensible precaution.
Farmers are encouraged to take care of their crops in light of the windy and rainy conditions, as isolated hail could affect standing crops in some areas.
Daytime temperatures will feel cooler than normal across the country during this period.
Travelers and tourists are advised to plan their Eid trips with the weather in mind, stay updated on road conditions and avoid unnecessary travel during the harshest periods.
All relevant authorities have been alerted and are taking the necessary steps to ensure public safety throughout the forecast window.
