The Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met Office) has predicted the arrival of a frontal weather system in the western parts of the country on the evening or night of January 1, 2025. The system is expected to bring widespread rain, thunderstorms, and heavy snowfall to various regions, persisting in the upper parts of the country until January 6, 2025.

Regional Weather Forecasts

Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir:
Rain, wind, and thunderstorms accompanied by heavy snowfall are expected in areas including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur in Kashmir. The wet spell will last from the night of January 1 to January 6, with occasional breaks.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with heavy snowfall over hilly areas are forecast for Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Waziristan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, and Kohat. The weather system will affect these areas from January 1 to January 5, with intermittent gaps.

Punjab and Islamabad:
Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with heavy snowfall are expected in Murree and Galliyat from the night of January 1 to January 6.
In Islamabad, the Pothohar region, and cities such as Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khushab, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, and Toba Tek Singh, rain and thunderstorms are expected from the evening or night of January 2 to the morning of January 6.
Light rain and thunderstorms are also likely in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Taunsa Sharif, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, and Bahawalnagar from the night of January 2 to January 5.

Balochistan:
Rain, wind, and thunderstorms with snowfall over hilly areas are expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chagai, Nushki, Kalat, Khuzdar, Harnai, Zhob, and Musakhel from January 1 to January 4, with occasional breaks.

Sindh:
Most parts of Sindh will experience cold and dry weather. However, light rain and thunderstorms are expected in Dadu, Qamber Shahdadkot, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Jacobabad on January 3 and 4.

Possible Impacts and Advisories

• Heavy Snowfall: Road closures and slippery conditions are likely in areas such as Murree, Galliyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, and Qilla Saifullah from January 2 to January 6.
• Landslides and Avalanches: There is a risk of landslides and avalanches in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, and Galliyat during this period.
• Tourist Advisory: Tourists are advised to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas during the forecast period.
• Agricultural Benefits: The rain is expected to benefit standing crops in Barani (rain-fed) areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Cold Wave: A cold wave is likely to grip most parts of the country following the wet spell.
• Dense Fog: Plains across the country may experience dense fog after the forecast period.

The Met Office has urged the public to stay updated on weather conditions and take necessary precautions during this period.