Rain forecast Pakistan: thunderstorms and snow in the north from 11 Nov
PMD expects rain, thunderstorms and mountain snow in KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from 11 to 14 November. Will Lahore's smog get any relief?
Rain with thunder is on its way to Pakistan’s north this week. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) expects a weak westerly system to enter the country’s northwest on Tuesday evening or night, bringing rain, strong winds and thunderstorms to the hills and snow to the mountains from Wednesday, 11 November, Daily Ausaf reported from the PMD outlook.
Most of the plains, including Karachi and southern Punjab, stay dry.
Where will it rain, day by day?
- Wednesday, 11 November: isolated rain, strong winds and thunderstorms in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, with snow on high mountains.
- Thursday, 12 November: the busiest day. Rain and thunderstorms across KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, snow in the mountains, and isolated showers in the Pothohar region, upper Punjab and northeast Balochistan.
- Friday, 13 November: rain and thunder in upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pothohar, Kashmir and nearby hills; snow on peaks.
- Saturday, 14 November: mostly dry, with isolated rain and snow left in the far north.
In KP, the PMD named Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Kurram, Hangu and Malakand for rain and thunderstorms, with lighter showers possible in Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat, Charsadda and Swabi. In Punjab it listed Murree, Galyat, Attock, Chakwal and Mianwali. Islamabad is forecast to stay mostly dry with partly cloudy evenings.
Will it clear Lahore’s smog?
Probably not much. The forecast keeps Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur dry, with morning fog and smog likely in parts of central and south Punjab. Over the weekend the Environment Protection Agency’s monitor at the Wagah border hit an AQI of 500, the top of the hazardous scale, while IQAir put the city’s average at 275 on Saturday morning, The Express Tribune reported. Showers over Pothohar on Thursday may reach upper Punjab, but it would take widespread rain over the plains to wash the air clean.
What to do
If you are heading to Murree, Galyat, Swat or Naran this week, expect slippery roads and sudden snow on higher passes between Wednesday and Friday, and check the road status before setting out. Farmers sowing wheat in the north may welcome the moisture. In Lahore, the Punjab AQI dashboard still advises cutting long or heavy outdoor activity on bad-air days.
The PMD updates its outlook daily; the next bulletin will show whether Thursday’s rain spreads further south.
