ISLAMABAD   -   Parts of the country are in the tight grip of cold as the first spell of snowfall on the mountain hills has decreased the mercury in Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir and northern areas while heavy rain was also expected in coming days including Lahore city. The Met Office said that a strong Westerly wave had entered western and upper parts of the country and might persist till January 7th (Friday). The weather office has predicted rains in Lahore from Tuesday till January 7. Local civic authorities have been advised to make adequate arrangements from the post-rain situations including urban flooding.   Rain (with isolated heavy falls) is expected in Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore and Kasur till 7th January. On the other hand, a large number of tourists thronged to Azad Jammu Kashmir valleys to see and enjoy the scenic views of snow-capped mountain hills. The first spell of snowfall has also decreased the mercury.

Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted the first spell of rain/snowfall in Balochistan and Sindh of 2022 from January 3rd to 5th.

Heavy Snowfall is also expected in Quetta, Pishin, Ziarat, Qilla Abdullah, Harnai, Chaman Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Haveli, Rawalakot, Naran, Kaghan, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Astore, Chitral, Dir, Swat and Malam Jabba during the period.

Under the influence of this weather system: Rain (with isolated heavy to very heavy falls) is expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Zhob, Qila Abdullah, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Noshki, Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar, Pasni, Jiwani, Lasbella, Kalat, Khuzdar, Mastung, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Jhalmagsi, Bolan, Sibbi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar khan, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas and Khairpur till 6th January Thursday.