Cold wave about to hit the country

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that a cold wave will hit many parts of the country starting tomorrow (December 8). 

Dawn’s Aamir Yasin reports that snowfall is expected in Murree and upper mountainous regions, along with rain in Northern areas of the country and the plains of Central Punjab.

The westerly wind is likely to enter the upper parts of the country from December 7, PMD has confirmed. Under the influence of this system, a cold wave is likely to affect most parts of the country from December 8-14.

Resultantly, a significant drop in day and night temperatures will be seen.

The press release delineates that the day temperature is predicted to drop four to six degrees celsius in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Whereas, in Balochistan and Sindh, a 5°-7°C drop in temperature is likely.

Cold winds are likely in Sindh, Balochistan and southern parts of Punjab. 

Plains might even experience frosty conditions.

PMD’s press release states that the cold wave/frost conditions are likely in the country during the next week. 

Additionally, rain-wind/thunderstorms (snowfall over hills) are also expected to hit the upper parts of the country.

Moderate rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Shangla, Manshera, Abbottabad, Kohistan, Astore, Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Haveli and Bagh from the night of December 7 to December 11 with occasional gaps.

Moreover, light to moderate rain, wind and thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is expected in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad and Jhang from the night of December 7 to mid-day December 8.

The press release also advised farmers to manage their activities keeping in view the forecast, particularly frost conditions. 

It also warned tourists and travellers visiting mountainous areas to remain cautious during the period as the popular tourist resort Murree is going to experience the first snowfall of the season in the coming days. 

Meanwhile, Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shiraz said that traffic police and local police have deployed additional forces in the hill station to manage traffic during snowfall, while the district administration has made facilitation centres to coordinate with the provincial government and the army.

Further, he said that the rescue and relief equipment received from the Pro­vincial Disaster Management Authority included search and rescue jackets, tyre snow chains, mechanical saws and winter tents.