RAWALPINDI: A western weather disturbance is set to bring rain-thunderstorms with snowfall over the hills to western and northern parts of the country this weekend and intensifying fog likely to develop over the country’s plains, the Pakistan Meteorological Depar­tment announced.

As the country faces dry weather, a shallow western disturbance app­roached the country’s western parts on the night of Dec 12, the Met Office said. Under its influence, a weather system is forecast to affect the region through the weekend.

Light to moderate rain-thunderstorms and snowfall over the hills with occasional gaps, are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mala­kand division, and Bunner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan; and the Neelum valley, Muz­a­ffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh and Haveli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

On Dec 14 and 15, partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with light rain or snowfall are expected in Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Wazir­istan, Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah and Noushki.

There are chances of drizzle in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and the Potohar region on Sunday and Monday. Murree and the Galliyat areas may receive light rain or light snow.

Dense fog

Moderate, and at times dense, foggy conditions are likely to develop over the plain areas of Punjab, KP and upper Sindh from the night of Dec 12 to Dec 16.

The Met Office warned of several possible impacts, saying that the snowfall may cause road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Kalam, Malam Jabba, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Quetta, Ziarat and Chaman.

There’s a possibility of the landslides in vulnerable areas of upper KP and GB during the period, the department said in its statement.

It noted that foggy conditions may significantly reduce visibility and disrupt traffic over motorways and highways. Daytime temperatures are likely to drop during the forecast period.

Officials advised the public, tourists and travellers to remain cautious. Farmers were also advised to manage their activities while keeping the latest weather forecast in view.

The department noted that another western disturbance is likely to influence western and upper parts of the country from Dec 19.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2025