- Western weather system to enter Balochsitan on Dec 19.
- PDMA warns of road closures, forecasts slipper conditions.
- Authority advises tourists to avoid unnecessary travel.
LAHORE: Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has said that rainfall and snowfall is likely to be witnessed in Murre, Rawalpindi and other parts of Punjab from December 20.
Citing the entry of a western disturbance in Balochistan on December 19 (tomorrow), the PDMA said that rain and thunderstorms were expected in the Potohar region, Mianwali, Bhakkat, Poorpurthal, Layyah and Galliyat till December 21.
The authority further said that owing to cloudy situations, drizzle is expected in Lahore, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Mutan, Jhan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Toba Tek Singh on December 20 and 21.
Warning that snowfall may cause road closures along with slippery conditions in Murree and Galliyat from December 20 to December 22, the PDMA has advised tourists ensure extra caution and avoid unnecessary travel during this period.
Addressing the smog/fog issue currently plaguing Punjab, it said that the issue is likely to continue in the central and northern parts of the province.
The PDMA further requested the district administration and relevant departments to ensure sufficient round-the-clock staffing in DEOCs, coordinate with relevant departments to ensure a unified prompt response, and make sure that hindrances in water channels are cleared.
The authority further recommended pre-position of Rescue 1122 teams with necessary equipment.
A day earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecast a downpour across the country from December 20 to December 22 due to a western weather system.
The Met Office said that rain and snowfall were likely in Balochistan’s Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Killa Abdulah, Killa Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai Zhob, Turbat, Gwadar, Lasbella, Kech, Awaran, Khuzdar, Kalat and other areas from December 19 to December 20.
Meanwhile, in Khyber Paktunkhwa, the PMD said that showers and snowfall were expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansherha, Abbottabad, Haripur, Bajaur, Khyber Orakzai, Kurran, Waziristan, Nowshera, Bannu, DI Khan, Kohat and other areas from December 20 to December 22.
In Sindh, it said that partly cloudy weather was expected on December 19 and 20 but no rain was likely during this time.
