The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a weather alert, predicting heavy rain, thunderstorm and snowfall in the upper and central areas of the country on Friday, while advising authorities concerned to remain “alert” and take precautionary measures on Saturday and Sunday.

"Another weather system is likely to enter upper and central parts of the country on Friday," the met department said in a press release.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain-thunderstorm with snowfall are expected in Islamabad and Murree along with areas in Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

It stated that moderate to heavy snowfall was expected at places in Murree, Galliyat, Nathiagali, Naran, Kaghan, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Astore, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Neelum valley, Bagh, Haveli, Rawalakot on Saturday and Sunday.

The snowfall may cause road closures in Murree, Galliyat, Nathiagali, Kaghan, Naran, Dir, Swat, Chitral, Astore, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Neelum valley, Bagh and Haveli districts on Saturday and Sunday, the PMD stated.

The possibility of landslides in the vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir cannot be ruled out during the period, the press release stated.

Meanwhile, rain and thunderstorm is expected in Punjab, K-P and tribal districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur from Friday (evening/night) to Monday (morning).

The weather system is likely to impact areas in Balochistan and Punjab including Dera Ismail Khan, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, Quetta, Ziarat, Barkhan, Pishin, Zhob, Qila Abdullah, Nokkundi, Dalbandin and Noshki on Friday (evening/night)/Saturday.

Heavy falls may cause urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha and Sialkot during the weekend, while the prevailing dense foggy conditions are likely to subside in plains of Punjab during the period.