Authorities today issued a travel advisory for the coming days as dense fog is expected to severely reduce visibility on major motorways and highways across the plains of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and upper Sindh starting tonight. The warning coincides with a weather system predicted to bring snowfall to mountainous areas, potentially causing road closures and landslides in vulnerable regions.
The National Weather Forecasting Centre reported that a shallow western disturbance is anticipated to reach the western parts of the country from the night of December 12th. This system is expected to influence weather patterns through the weekend and into early next week.
Under the influence of this system, light to moderate rain and thunderstorms, with significant snowfall over the hills, are expected from December 13th to 15th. Affected areas include Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, and Malakand. Similar conditions are forecasted for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, including the Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, and surrounding districts.
On December 14th and 15th, partly cloudy to cloudy conditions accompanied by light rain or snowfall are predicted for regions including Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Quetta, Ziarat, and Zhob. Additionally, there is a possibility of drizzle in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi area and the Potohar region, with light precipitation in Murree and the Galliyat on Sunday and Monday.
The met office has specifically highlighted that moderate to dense fog will likely intensify across the plains of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and upper Sindh from the night of December 12th until December 16th, posing a significant hazard to commuters.
The anticipated snowfall may lead to slippery conditions and road closures in popular tourist destinations such as Naran, Kaghan, Kalam, Malam Jabba, and Ziarat. The public is advised to exercise caution, as the risk of landslides also increases in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. A drop in daytime temperatures is also expected. Travelers and tourists are urged to remain vigilant, while farmers should plan their activities according to the latest weather updates.
Forecasters are also tracking another western disturbance, which is expected to affect the western and upper parts of the country beginning December 19th.