ISLAMABAD: As La Nina and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) have subsided, another weather system will enter the country from the west bringing more rain and snowfall from Monday.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in a warning has asked the people to follow the advisory of National Disaster Management Authority and the National Highway Authority while visiting mountainous areas.

Intermittent rain may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Khyber Paktunkhwa (KP), Gigit Baltistan (GB) and Kashmir.

At the same time the PMD has said the rains will be good for the Rabi corps, especially in barani areas.

The satellite imagery at the Met office web site shows clusters of clouds hovering over central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, central and Northern Pakistan and Northern India.

However, a fresh wave of cold winds from the west accompanied by heavy clouds will reach Balochistan, by Sunday night, bringing rain and snowfall from Monday to Wednesday.

It will also bring rain in Rawalpindi and Islamabad region with more snowfall in Murree and Galiyat from Monday to Thursday. Similar conditions are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Thunderstorm is also expected at scattered places on Tuesday and Wednesday in Sindh.

The Met office has also forecast normal rainfall and slightly above normal snowfall in February, as both the global wind patterns- the La-Nina and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) — have become neutral.

Published in Dawn January 22nd, 2017