The Met Office is also predicting rain and thundershowers in the upper parts of the country from 9-12. March
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Monday that prevailing winds from Iran could carry pollutants into Pakistan and worsen air quality in parts of the country following recent developments in the neighboring country amid strikes from the US and Israel.
Israeli warplanes hit oil storage and refining facilities in Iran’s capital Tehran on Saturday. Massive fireballs and dense plumes of smoke rose over the city as joint US-Israeli airstrikes hit fuel storage facilities, sparking large fires and sending thick smoke across the Iranian capital.
In a press release issued today, the PMD said: “Due to the recent situation in Iran, the wind may carry pollutants and degrade air quality in the western parts of the country.”
The Met Office is also forecasting rain and thundershowers in upper parts of the country from March 9 to 12 as a westerly weather system approaches the region.
According to PMD, a westerly wave is expected to reach western parts of Pakistan on Monday evening and may continue till Thursday bringing unstable weather conditions to several northern areas.
Under the influence of the system, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with moderate rain, wind and thundershowers, including occasional heavy falls, is expected in districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battgram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur, as well as parts of Gilgit-Baltist on March 2 and March 2 in the evening of March 9.
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Light rain and thundershowers are also likely in Khyber, Mohmand, Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bajaur, Bannu, Waziristan, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu and Mianwali on March 10 and 11, the department said.
The PMD added that rain, wind and thundershowers are expected in Islamabad, Pothohar region, Murree, Galliyat and surrounding areas from the night of March 9 to 11, with occasional gaps.
The weather department further warned that hailstorm may occur at isolated places in Islamabad and other upper parts of the country during the forecast period.
