ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecast rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms across the upper parts of Pakistan including Azad Kashmir from March 14 to March 16.
In a weather advisory issued on Friday, the Met office said that under the influence of weather system, daytime temperatures are expected to drop by 3-4°C in northern and upper regions.
The advisory noted that a westerly wave is expected to approach the northwestern regions of the country on Saturday evening and persist until the early hours of Monday.
Regions like Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, and other parts of Punjab, as well as Zhob, Barkhan, and Chaman in Balochistan are likely to experience significant weather impacts.
Hailstorms are also anticipated at isolated locations during the said period. Additionally, another western disturbance is expected to affect western Pakistan by the night of March 17.
On the other hand, the NDMA stated, “Under the influence of this weather system, daytime temperatures are expected to decrease by 3–4°C in the northern and upper regions. Vulnerable areas such as upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir are at risk of landslides”.
The advisory urged tourists to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas during the forecast period. Farmers are advised to take appropriate measures to protect their crops in line with prevailing weather conditions.
Given the possibility of hailstorms, the NDMA also issued the safety recommendations for residents. The NDMA also called on all relevant authorities, including federal ministries, provincial governments, and local administrations, to implement necessary precautionary measures to protect public safety and minimise property damage during the forecast period.
SDMA also forecast rain
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), AJK has also issued a warning about a series of rains starting from March 14.
It said that rain is expected in Azad Kashmir from the evening of March 14 to March 16, with snowfall on high mountains.
Rain is expected in Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Jhelum Valley, Bagh, Haveli, and Poonch, with snowfall on upper mountains. The SDMA has advised citizens to travel cautiously during the rain.
