Rain and thunderstorms were expected in the upper parts of the country from Saturday, the Met Office has said, as the country prepares for the winter season.

“Met Office informed that a westerly system is likely to enter upper parts on October 13 [evening/night] and likely to spread upper/central parts on 14th [night],” the Pakistan Meteorological Department said in a statement on Thursday.

Under the influence of this weather system:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Rain and thunderstorms (moderate to isolated heavy falls) is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Swabi, Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu, Orakzai, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Waziristan and Dera Ismail Khan from October 13 to October 17 with occasional gaps.

“Snowfall [is expected] over the high mountains and isolated hailstorm in plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the forecast period.”

Kashmir/Gilgit-Baltistan

Rain and thunderstorms (moderate to isolated heavy falls) is expected in Kashmir, (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar) from 13th to 17th. Snowfall over the high mountains is expected in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the forecast period.

Punjab/Islamabad

Rain and thunderstorms (moderate to isolated heavy falls) with isolated hailstorm is expected in Islamabad, Potohar region, Murree, Galiyat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Noorpurthal, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Kasur from 13th to 17th. Rain-wind/thunderstorm is also expected in Layyah, Bhakkar, Kot Addu, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan on 16th to 18th with occasional gaps.

Sindh

Rain and thunderstorms are also expected in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Sanghar, and Umerkot on 17th and 18th.

Balochistan

Rain and thunderstorms are also expected in Sherani, Musa Khel, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Loralai, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibbi, Bolan, Kalat, Harnai, Naseerabad, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Quetta and Ziarat on 17 and 18th.

The PMD advised that moderate to heavy falls might increase water flows in local nullahs/streams and might trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra & Abbottabad during the spell.

Heavy rain might generate urban flooding in Rawalpindi and Lahore on October 15 and 16, the Met Office said and added that temperatures were likely to drop significantly.

“Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities accordingly,” it said, “tourists and travelers are advised to remain cautious during the forecast period.”