ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department on Sunday warned against the possibility of landslides and avalanches in the country’s northern areas next week, as it forecast heavy rains and snowfall in hilly regions. 

The Met Office predicted that a westerly wave is likely to approach Pakistan’s western areas from Dec. 29 and strengthen from Dec. 30 onwards. This wave is expected to grip most upper and central parts of the country on Dec. 31 and persist in the upper areas till Jan. 2, the PMD said. 
 
“Possibility of landslides/avalanches in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period,” the PMD warned. 

“Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary traveling during the period.”

The advisory warned that rainfall with wind and thunderstorm and snowfall is likely in Punjab’s Murree and the Galliyat region from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2 with occasional gaps. It also warned of rain with wind, thunderstorms and moderate snowfall in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir regions during the same period.

The PMD warned of rain with wind and thunderstorms, with moderate to heavy snowfall in upper areas from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 

For Sindh and Balochistan provinces, the PMD warned that rain with wind and thunderstorms with snowfall were expected over hilly areas from Dec. 29-31. 

The PMD warned snowfall may cause road closures or slippery conditions in the northern areas of Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat and Neelum Valley from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2. 

“Fog condition is likely to subside in central/southern parts of Punjab and upper Sindh during the wet spell,” it said. 

“Daytime temperatures are likely to drop further in the coming week, particularly after the spell.”

Authorities in the past have urged people to avoid northern areas or exercise caution in travel when weather conditions are expected to deteriorate during the winter season. 

At least 21 people, including nine children, died in freezing temperatures after being stuck in their vehicles in the Pakistani hill station of Murree in January 2022 when roads became impassable due to heavy snow.