Rain colors Friday morning gray in Islamabad, PMD predicts more chilly weather

WEB DESK: A silvery rain drifted across the capital on Friday, turning Islamabad’s streets into mirrors of cloud and light. As intermittent showers fell, motorcyclists paused their journeys, gathering beneath bridges, listening to the rhythm of raindrops and waiting for the sky to loosen its hold.

Nearby Rawalpindi shared the same gentle spell, as rain continued to wash over the twin cities. So far, around 30 millimetres of rain has been recorded in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The heaviest rainfall was measured in Saidpur at 42 mm, followed by H-8 with 38 mm and Golra with 19 mm. In Rawalpindi, Shamsabad received 37 mm, while Chaklala and Bokra recorded 30 mm each.

OVERALL FORECAST

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, along with snowfall in mountainous areas, across upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad and upper Punjab on Friday. During this period, moderate to heavy rain and snowfall may occur in upper regions, while cold and dry weather is expected to prevail in most other parts of the country.

Going region by region, in Islamabad, cloudy conditions are expected to persist, with strong winds and thunderstorms.

In Punjab, rain with strong winds and thundershowers is likely at isolated places including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad and Chiniot. Heavy rain and hailstorms are expected in northeastern districts, while moderate to heavy rain and snowfall may affect Murree, Galiyat and surrounding areas, particularly during morning hours.

Most districts in Sindh are expected to remain cold and dry.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain with strong winds and thundershowers is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi and Nowshera, with moderate to heavy snowfall in upper districts.

In Balochistan, the weather today is likely to remain cold and dry in most areas.

Partly cloudy conditions with intermittent rain and snowfall, strong winds and thundershowers are expected in Kashmir, with moderate to heavy precipitation likely.

Likewise, in Gilgit-Baltistan, partly cloudy weather with intermittent rain and snowfall, strong winds and thundershowers is forecast, along with moderate to heavy snowfall in the region.