ISLAMABAD: The Met Office has predicted above normal rainfall in February.

The mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) may receive above normal snowfall during the period.

The Met Office has said that the global circulations indicate the westerly winds will remain within normal frequency in South Asian region, including Pakistan, during the current month.

The weather outlook released by Pakistan Meteorological Department based on global climate models indicates that Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) will persist along its neutral position.

The IOD is the irregular fluctuation of sea-surface temperatures in which the western Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer and then colder than the eastern part of the ocean.

“Based upon the regional and global forcing factors, adequate rainfall will be received in the country,” the Met Office said.

At the same time, day and night time temperatures will gradually increase in February - the average night temperatures over the country are likely to be slightly above normal during the month.

Due to rainfall and overall increase in the mercury level, fog conditions have subsided in almost all parts of the country. The current westerly wave is affecting upper parts of the country and is likely to persist till Friday.

The Met Office has said that widespread rain with snowfall over the hills is expected in northeast Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Hazara division, Islamabad and Kashmir, while at scattered places in Malakand, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Bahawalpur divisions.

Meanwhile, Islamabad received 25mm rainfall on Wednewsday.

Upper Dir received 45mm rainfall, the highest recorded in the country, followed by 40mm in Malamjabba. Rawalpindi received 19mm, Gujrat 16mm, Murree 13mm, Chakwal 12mm and Chilas received 9mm rainfall.

Five inches of snowfall was recorded in Malamjabba, Kalam and Murree.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2019