LAHORE, Feb 1: An active westerly weather system which is expected to generate widespread rain and heavy snowfall over the hills will enter the country on Saturday.

Weather experts told Dawn on Friday the new system would generate more rain and snowfall than last month’s system of comparatively less intensity.

They said the rain and snowfall would slightly increase river flows, overcoming the shortage of water in plains.

The experts said rains were 40 per cent less than their normal value especially in wheat-growing areas.

Chief Meteorologist Riaz Khan said the system would give adequate rain to plains and catchments of eastern rivers, increasing their flows to some extent.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the system would generate widespread rains and heavy snowfall in the country from Sunday to Tuesday.

Widespread rains with isolated heavy falls are expected in Makran and Kalat divisions in Balochistan on Sunday and Monday. Isolated snowfall was expected over the hills in north Balochistan.

There would be widespread rain with scattered heavy falls in Peshawar, Kohat, Hazara and Malakand divisions from Sunday to Tuesday.

Heavy snowfall is expected over the hills in Malakand and Hazara divisions on Monday and Tuesday.

Widespread rain with heavy falls is forecast for Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha divisions and Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday. South Punjab may receive scattered rain during the period.

A heavy snowfall is expected in Murree on Monday and Tuesday.

There will be scattered rain in Sukkur and Larkana divisions and isolated rain in lower parts of Sindh on Sunday and Monday.

Gilgit-Baltistan will receive widespread rain and snow with scattered heavy fall from Sunday to Wednesday.

It remained partly cloudy in most parts of the country.

Temperatures over the hills were low and weather was mild in most cities.

The maximum temperature in Lahore was 22 degrees Celsius. On Thursday night, the minimum temperature was 9.3 degrees.