Pakistan Weather News / Updates

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Met Office warns of road closures, landslides in upper parts of country, urges tourists to remain ‘extra cautious’​

Umar Bacha | News Desk
January 25, 2026



An eye-catching view of a snow covered area after heavy snowfall in Galiyat area in Abbottabad on Jan 25, 2026. — PPI Images

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned against road closures and landslides from January 26 to 27 in the country’s upper parts due to heavy snowfall, advising citizens to remain “extra cautious”.

In a statement, the Met Office said that in the next couple of days, “heavy snowfall may cause road closure/slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai and Zhob.”

It further cautioned that there was a “possibility of landslides/avalanches in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir” during the period.

The PMD advised tourists to “remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the next two days.”

 

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Heavy snowfall, avalanches and landslides have brought life to a standstill across KP, Balochistan, GB and Azad Kashmir (AJK), blocking roads, stranding travellers and disrupting electricity and relief operations amid freezing temperatures.

On Friday, at least nine members of a family were killed when a snow avalanche buried their house in Chitral.

 

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’Cold winds likely in most parts of country’​

According to the Met Office, “The western system is likely to affect southwestern Balochistan from tonight (Sunday) and grip the western and upper parts of the country from Monday.”

Setting off today, “mainly cold and dry weather” was expected in most parts of the country, while “very cold and partly cloudy” in upper KP, AJK and GB, the Met office added.

“Cold winds are also likely in most parts of the country,” it said. “However, partly cloudy weather with rain-wind/thunderstorm and snowfall is likely in southwestern Balochistan.”

For tomorrow, it also forecasted cloudy weather with intermittent rains, thunderstorms, and snowfall in KP, Kashmir, GB, Balochistan and upper Punjab. “Heavy falls with moderate to intense snowfall” were likely to hit hilly areas, the PMD added.

Furthermore, rains and thunderstorm was also likely in South Punjab and upper Sindh on Monday, the Met Office said.

 

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Roads blocked, power disrupted in Shangla after snow​

Meanwhile, life in KP’s Shangla has been at a standstill for the fourth consecutive day as most key and link roads have been blocked to traffic, and power supply has been disrupted across the district.



.An electricity supply pole lies on the ground after heavy snowfall in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

Upper parts of the district had received up to four feet of snow in the recent spell of snowfall, which was termed the heaviest snowfall in 13 years by residents.

The snowfall caused road blockades and suspension of power supply, paralysing the local routine life.

 

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Heavy snowfall hinders routine life across Balochistan​

Saleem Shahid



Commuters drive through a snow-covered road near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman.—AFP

• Power outages, gas shortages hit residents hard amid freezing temperature
• Several roads blocked; machinery deployed; public urged to stay home

QUETTA: Heavy downpour and snowfall blanketed the Quetta valley and vast parts of northern and central Balochistan on Thursday, ending a long dry spell but paralysing normal life.

The severe weather blocked major highways, cutting off the provincial capital, while lashing Siberian winds caused temperatures to plummet across the region.

Authorities reported that six members of a family were injured when their vehicle skidded off the Quetta-Karachi national highway in the Surab area of Kalat district due to freezing snow. The injured were shifted to a district hospital.

Consequently, officials suspended traffic on various highways connecting Balochistan with other provinces and linking remote districts to Quetta, citing dangerous, slippery conditions caused by high-speed icy winds.

The extreme weather affected more than just transportation. Cities and towns connected to the Sui Southern Gas Company, including Quetta, suffered long power breakouts and low gas pressure.

 

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Cold wave triggers surge in respiratory illnesses across K-P​

Hospitals overflow as thousands of children and elderly patients seek treatment for chest infections, pneumonia

Shahida Parveen
January 25, 2026

PESHAWAR: A sharp increase in cold weather has led to a worrying surge in respiratory and chest-related illnesses across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, overwhelming public hospitals in Peshawar and other districts, health officials said on Sunday.

According to the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) report issued by the Health Department, a total of 8,642 cases of respiratory and chest infections were reported from hospitals across the province in just one week, between January 12 and January 18. The rising number of patients has resulted in chest and paediatric wards operating beyond capacity, with many hospitals struggling to accommodate new admissions.

District-wise data shows that Charsadda reported the highest number of cases at 2,573, followed by Haripur with 2,554 cases. Other affected districts include Swabi (780), Battagram (583), Peshawar (535), Mardan (324), Mohmand (299), Swat (287), and Abbottabad (235). Health officials noted that while the number of cases reported in the first week of January was slightly lower, the trend has remained persistently high due to prolonged cold conditions.

 

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Health experts have urged citizens to take preventive measures amid the cold spell. They advised families to keep children and elderly individuals adequately covered with warm clothing, ensure proper nutrition, and provide warm fluids such as soup. Experts also stressed the importance of wearing masks when taking children outdoors to reduce the risk of infection.

The Health Department has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and seek timely medical care in case of severe symptoms, warning that neglect could lead to serious complications, especially among vulnerable groups.

 

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PMD issues early warning as western system brings strong winds to Sindh​

Karachi's minimum temperature forecast to remain between 9°C-11°C; rainfall not expected

Aftab KhanJ
anuary 25, 2026

A rare stillness takes over the usually bustling Sea View beach. Cold weather keeps visitors away, leaving the horses idle and the scenic promenade beautifully empty — an unusual glimpse of calm in the heart of the city. Photo: NNI

KARACHI : The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an early warning as a series of easterly winds will begin affecting the country’s western regions from Sunday night.

According to the PMD’s forecast, a western weather system will impact the northern parts of the country tomorrow. Under its influence, districts including Sukkur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, and Dadu may experience heavy winds accompanied by thunderstorms and rain.

Elsewhere in Sindh, the weather is expected to remain cold and dry.

In Karachi, strong winds are likely to continue over the next two days, although rainfall is not expected due to the new western system. The city’s minimum temperature is forecast to remain between 9°C and 11°C on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The PMD has urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions during the stormy conditions.

 

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Meteorologists had warned that strong gusts could intensify over the weekend, with wind speed expected to climb as high as 55 kilometres per hour.

The current cold wave, they noted, is being fueled by northwesterly winds blowing in from Quetta after a western disturbance brought light to moderate showers earlier in the week. This system has made the chill feel more severe than the last cold spell.

PMD confirmed that the current cold spell has not broken any previous records. Karachi’s coldest ever weather was recorded as zero degrees Celsius in 1934, followed by 1.3 degrees Celsius in 1986, 6.5 in 2014, 5.6 in 2020, and between 6.2 and 8 degrees Celsius in January 2025.

 

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Cold wave continues to grip country as another western disturbance rolls in: NWFC​

News Desk
January 26, 2026



A child and her father walk along a snow-covered path in Balochistan

The country remained in the grip of a cold wave on Monday, with the National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC) saying that a new western disturbance is likely to persist in upper Pakistan until Tuesday.

The NWFC, in its daily forecast, warned of traffic disruption due to heavy snowfall, causing road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai and Zhob.

It added that there was a risk of landslides and avalanches in the mountainous areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period,” it said.

 

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The NWFC forecast rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall in Balochistan, KP, Kashmir and GB on Monday.

According to the forecast, heavy rain and moderate-to-heavy snowfall is also likely at isolated places in south and northeast Balochistan, Kashmir and upper KP, while rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall is also expected at isolated places in southern Punjab and upper Sindh.

It added that rain, wind and thunderstorms were likely in Islamabad as well as upper and central Punjab in the evening and night hours of Monday.

On Tuesday, according to the NWFC, rain and snowfall with thunderstorms and strong winds are expected in upper KP, Kashmir, GB and upper Punjab. Heavy rain and moderate-to-heavy snowfall is also likely in isolated parts of Kashmir and upper KP, it said.

“Cold and dry weather is likely in other parts of the country,” the forecast added.

The past 24 hours saw cold and dry weather in most parts of the country, with rain and snowfall in northeastern and western Balochistan and upper KP.

The lowest minimum temperature recorded today (as of 10:30am) was -12 degrees Celsius in Leh, followed by -08°C in Kalam and Ziarat.

 

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Five killed in GB, Balochistan amid cold wave​

Jamil Nagri | Saleem Shahid
January 25, 2026



LOCALS gather at the site after a watchtower on a house collapsed on Saturday due to recent heavy snowfall in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan.—Dawn

GILGIT/QUETTA: Four people were killed in Gilgit-Baltistan when a tower collapsed on a house following heavy snowfall in Diamer, while one person died in Balochistan after a roof caved in due to downpour in Zhob.

Police said a “clock/observation tower” near a residential home in Tangir Valley in Diamer collapsed on a house, resulting in the death of four members of a family and injuries to two other members.

Diamer Deputy Commissioner Ataur Rehman Kakar said heavy snowfall occurred in Tangir on Thursday, which might have caused the incident. According to police sources, the casualties could rise as the relief operation continued.

The Karakoram Highway (KKH), Baltistan Road, Ghizer–Shandur Road and other roads were opened to traffic on Saturday, while link roads in various areas of the region, including Astore, Skardu, Ghanche, Ghizer and Shigar, remained blocked.

Met office forecasts more rain, snow in parts of country

 

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Snow blankets parts of KP, Murree; Met Office forecasts more rain, snow from Jan 25-27​

Ibrahim Shinwari | Umar Bacha | Aamir Yasin | Manzoor Ali
January 23, 2026



Heavy machinery is used to clear a road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid heavy snowfall on January 23, 2026. —Photo by Umar Bacha

KHYBER/ SHANGLA/ RAWALPINDI: Commuters and residents faced difficulties on Thursday as snow blanketed several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Murree.

While a restriction was placed on the entry of vehicles into Murree, a rescue operation was under way in Tirah.

Meanwhile, the Met Office said more rain and snowfall was expected in different areas from Sunday night till Tuesday under the influence of a westerly wave.

 

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PDMA put on high alert in Balochistan​

Meanwhile, Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was put on high alert as rain and snowfall continue to affect parts of the province, state-run APP reported.

It quoted Director of Relief Operations at PDMA Mir Attaullah Mengal as saying that the disaster management authority’s teams had been “fully mobilised since the onset of snowfall and rainfall”. He further said that operations to clear the snow were being carried out even at nights to “prevent road blockages and minimise inconvenience for the public”.

“Timely and effective measures have enabled PDMA to keep all major highways operational despite severe weather conditions. Uninterrupted traffic flow and public safety remain [our] top priorities,” the official said.

He urged the people, particularly travellers and tourists, to avoid unnecessary travel, adopt precautionary measures and cooperate with PDMA and district administration teams to prevent accidents.

“The PDMA has been put on high alert across the province in view of the possibility of further snowfall and adverse weather conditions. The chief minister has directed relevant authorities to submit hourly situation reports while closely monitoring evolving conditions,” Mengal added.

He said that the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre would remain operational 24 hours in the given situation, “performing coordination, monitoring, tracking, and reporting duties, while ensuring the timely provision and effective management of relief resources”.