RAWALPINDI: The first winter rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, bringing a chill to the air and creating a slushy mess in low-lying areas. Light rain was recorded in the twin cities on Thursday, while the Met Office predicted more rain on Friday (today).

People woke to cloudy weather, but the rain started in the evening. However, light rain again occurred in various parts of the city overnight.

The chilly weather forced people to stay in warm rooms, but some preferred to go outside to enjoy the weather. On the other hand, most areas of the city were facing a slushy mess. Construction work on different roads in the downtown areas created a muddle in and around those areas.

The Met Office predicted rain and said that a westerly wave is affecting the upper and central parts of the country and may persist in the upper parts for the next 36 hours.

“Partly cloudy to cloudy weather is expected over most upper parts of the country. However, rain-wind/thunderstorm (with snowfall over mountains) is likely in isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Potohar Region. Dry weather is expected in other parts of the country,” the official said.

The Met Office warned that rainfall/snowfall over the hills may cause landslides and slippery road conditions, disrupting traffic flow in the hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir. Tourists are advised to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the period.

According to the Met Office, rain was recorded in Murree at 3mm, 3mm at Zero Point, 2mm at Islamabad Airport and Saidpur in Islamabad, 2 mm at Kattarian, and 1 mm at Shamsabad, Gawalmandi, Pirwadhai and Kutcheri in Rawalpindi.

The Met official said that the temperature would further drop in the coming days after the rain and snow in the nearby hills.

“The rain settled the dust and it will reduce the cases of cold and flu in Rawalpindi. This year, such cases increased in three government-run hospitals due to dry weather. Most patients will have to experience the cold and flu for a week due to dust allergy,” said a doctor at Holy Family Hospital. On the other hand, the light rain is good for the wheat farms, especially in the Potohar region, which relies on rain in the arid agricultural areas.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2026