• New system to bring heavy rain, snow in northern regions today
• NDMA issues high-level landslide alerts for KP, GB & AJK; medium-level for Balochistan
• Roof collapse incidents leave one dead, six injured in Quetta, Duki
• Officials urge public to avoid unnecessary travel during forecast period

ISLAMABAD: The country remained in the grip of a severe cold wave on Monday, with the National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC) stating that a new western disturbance is likely to persist in upper Pakistan through Tuesday (today).

The NWFC, in its daily forecast, warned of traffic disruptions caused by heavy snowfall. The system is causing road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai and Zhob.

Officials added that there was a risk of landslides and avalanches in the mountainous areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period,” the centre said.

Regarding the broader forecast, the NWFC predicted rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall in Balochistan, KP, Kashmir and GB.

Heavy rain and moderate-to-heavy snowfall are likely at isolated places in south and northeast Balochistan, Kashmir and upper KP. Rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall are also expected at isolated places in southern Punjab and upper Sindh.

For Tuesday, the NWFC forecast rain and snowfall with thunderstorms and strong winds in upper KP, Kashmir, GB and upper Punjab. “Cold and dry weather is likely in other parts of the country,” the forecast added.

The Pakistan Meteorological Dep­artment, in its three-day weather forecast for the Karachi division, predicted partly cloudy weather with chances of light rain in Sukkur, Larkana, Kambar Shahdadkot, Jac­obabad and Dadu districts under the influence of the westerly wave.

It added that partly cloudy and cold conditions were likely to prevail over most of Sindh.

Cold and dry weather was expected for Karachi on both Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs of 21-23 degrees Celsius and lows of 9-11 C.

The past 24 hours saw cold and dry weather in most parts of the country, with rain and snowfall in northeastern and western Balochistan and upper KP. The lowest minimum temperature recorded Monday was minus 12 degrees Celsius in Leh, followed by minus 8 C in Kalam and Ziarat.

Landslide alert

Meanwhile, NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center issued landslide alerts across multiple regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and Balochistan.

A high-level landslide alert has been issued for KP, GB and AJK, while a medium-level landslide alert remains in place for several districts of Balochistan. These alerts are based on forecasted intense precipitation, snowfall and prevailing geological conditions in hilly and mountainous areas.

The NEOC noted that districts such as Dir, Swat, Kalam, Kaghan, Chitral, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Astore, Bunji, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza and surrounding regions are characterised by steep slopes and fragile terrain. These factors make them highly vulnerable to landslides, mudslides, snow slides and rockfalls.

Quetta, Duki disasters

Separately, heavy rains, thunderstorms, and snowfall lashed northern and central Balochistan on Monday, killing one person and injuring six others as house roofs collapsed in Quetta and Duki.

The second severe weather spell, intensified by cold Siberian winds, began on Sunday night and disrupted daily life, paralysing traffic on national highways where snow froze and blocked inter-provincial roads.

In Quetta’s Sabzal Road area, a roof caved in due to heavy snow, killing one person and injuring two. Four others were injured when a roof collapsed in Duki town; all victims were shifted to local hospitals. Power supplies remained suspended in the outskirts of Quetta despite utility announcements that there would be no load shedding, while consumers faced low gas pressure in sub-zero temperatures.

The NHA deployed staff for snow-clearing and salt-sprinkling operations late into the night to keep major routes open. According to the PMD , Ziarat received 9 inches of snow, while Kalat recorded 41 millimetres of rain.

PDMA Director General Jahanzeb Khan urged the public to adopt precautionary measures and avoid unnecessary travel. Relief operations were launched in Qila Abdullah, where heavy snowfall initially cut off the Dubandi tehsil.

Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti declared a severe weather emergency, stating that the entire provincial machinery was engaged in relief operations.

He warned that protests and road blockades during this period endangered human lives by disrupting rescue activities.

“Political differences can be addressed later, but people’s lives cannot wait,” Mr Bugti said. “At this moment, saving lives is the foremost priority, and everyone must stand with the public instead of creating obstacles.”

Aamir Yasin in Rawalpindi also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026