The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted rain and thunderstorms in the upper regions of the country on Thursday (today), with snowfall expected over high-altitude areas.

According to the PMD’s daily weather update, "Rain-wind or thunderstorms [with snow over the high mountains] is expected at isolated places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and upper Punjab."

The Met Office further stated that a shallow westerly wave is affecting the upper parts of the country. While most regions are expected to experience dry and partly cloudy weather, rain is anticipated in several cities over the next two days.

Rain forecast for March 14-15

Showers have been forecast in various parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Mastung, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chagai, Nushki, Barkhan, Khuzdar, Harnai, Zhob, and Sherani.

In Punjab, rain is expected in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan, and Multan, Faisalabad, Lahore; and Gujranwala, Sheikhipura while parts of Sindh, including Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, and Larkana, are also likely to receive precipitation. The forecast extends to Sahiwal, Pakpattan, and Khanewal.

Past 24-hour weather conditions

On Tuesday, partly cloudy weather prevailed across most parts of the country, with scattered rain, wind, and thunderstorms recorded in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and the Pothohar region.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received significant rainfall, with Cherat recording 14mm and Upper Dir 12mm. In Kashmir, Muzaffarabad saw 7mm of rain, while Murree in Punjab recorded 4mm and Islamabad 3mm. Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan received 5mm, whereas Nokkundi in Balochistan recorded 1mm.

The lowest temperatures were recorded in Leh at -3°C, while Gupis and Parachinar reported -1°C.