The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday predicted heavy snowfall in Murree, Galliyat, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from February 29 to March 3.

“Torrential rainfall and heavy snowfall, expected in most parts of the country from February 29 to March 2 might generate flash floods and disrupt daily life in the vulnerable areas,” the Met Office said in a statement.

The PMD advised tourists not to travel unnecessarily, saying that the torrential rain and heavy snowfall may cause landslides in upper KP, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan.

According to the Met Office, a strong westerly wave was likely to approach western parts on February 29 and may grip most parts of the country on March 1 and persist till March 2.

Read: 13 tourists’ facilitation centres set up in Murree to help tourists 13

Torrential rainfall and heavy snowfall with windstorms, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorm was expected in most parts of the country during the period.

Heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm and thunderstorm with heavy snowfall over the hills is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Bajaur, Karak, and Khyber from February 29 to March 3.

Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan are also likely to receive heavy rain and snowfall during the period.

Heavy to extremely heavy rain with windstorm, thunderstorm and snowfall is expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur from Feb 29 to Mar 3 while isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

Balochistan is also expected to receive heavy rain with windstorm and thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills).

In Punjab and Islamabad, widespread heavy rain with windstorm and thunderstorm is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali and Bhakkar on March 1 and 2.

In Sindh, rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas on February 29 and March 1. Isolated hailstorm is also likely during this period.

The Met Office said that heavy rainfall may cause flash flooding in local nullah’s of Gwadar, Ketch, Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Dalbandin, Khuzdar, Dera Ghazi Khan on February 29 and March 1.

Heavy rainfall may cause flash flooding in hill torrents of KP, Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, and local nullah’s of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on March 1 and 2.

Heavy rain and snowfall may cause the closure of roads in Murree, Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch and Haveli on March 1 and 2.