Islamabad (NYTODAY) — The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a weather alert until January 16 due to an intense cold wave affecting various parts of the country. According to the PDMA, severe cold accompanied by snowfall is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat and the Pothohar region, while fog and smog conditions are also likely to worsen.
The authority has instructed departments including tourism, education, health, agriculture, local government and forestry to take precautionary measures. These directives have been issued through official notifications to ensure preparedness amid the harsh weather conditions.
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Meteorological experts report that all major weather models are pointing towards unusually severe cold across the country. Extremely cold winds originating from Siberia are expected to impact the entire region. Experts describe this cold spell as one of the most intense experienced in decades, with temperatures potentially dropping below freezing from the plains of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to parts of Sindh.
According to specialists, a weak low-pressure system in southern regions between January 11 and 13 may cause a brief rise in temperatures. However, a strong westerly weather system is forecast to affect the country between January 16 and 18, bringing a renewed wave of extreme cold.
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There is a strong possibility of snowfall in urban areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with minimum temperatures expected to fall to dangerously low levels. Weather models also suggest a rare chance of snowfall in Lahore, which would be the first such event since 1878.
In Quetta, temperatures could plunge to between minus 15 and minus 20 degrees Celsius, with the perceived temperature dropping as low as minus 25 degrees. Such conditions have not been recorded since 1970. Peshawar is also likely to experience snowfall between January 23 and 25, along with 15 to 25 millimetres of rainfall, while minimum temperatures may fall to minus 5 degrees Celsius.
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Most parts of Balochistan are expected to receive rain and snowfall during this cold spell, with four to six inches of snow possible, particularly in Quetta and Qalat. Experts have further warned that powerful icy winds ranging from 60 to 100 kilometres per hour may sweep across the province between January 21 and 23, potentially worsening the situation.