An active Western Disturbance (WD) moving across the Middle East brought widespread precipitation in Iran, Afghanistan and then to Pakistan.
Rain in Pakistan
In last 24 hours, widespread heavy rainfall has been reported from Pakistan, where Garhi Dupatta recorded 98 mm, Parachinar 72 mm, Chitral 62 mm, Kalam 57 mm, Rawalkot 55 mm, Peshawar 28 mm and Islamabad reported 17 mm of rain. Additionally, Kalam and Chitral received 6 and 3 inches of snow, respectively.
The combination of the sluggish movement of WD and moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea has led to rainfall and accumulation of snow in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northwest India during the last few days.
Initially, the WD caused mostly rain in central and eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan. The warm air ahead of the storm did not lead to snowfall, except for the highest mountains in the region. Strong winds along with dust/thunderstorms lashed the areas lying on the southern and eastern side of the storm.
As colder air mass in the north surged ahead, higher elevations of western and central Afghanistan received snowfall on Monday, while heavy rain fell in eastern parts of Afghanistan. On Tuesday, Kabul received rain and thunderstorms followed by heavy snow.
Another round of snowfall across central and eastern Afghanistan along with the higher reaches of northeast Pakistan is likely on Wednesday. Rain will continue in the foothills and plains of eastern Pakistan where it can lead to floods and even mudslides.
The system is likely to clear off from Pakistan on Thursday and gradually move into the Western Himalayas on Friday after causing another round of rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Another equally active WD if not more, will follow the present one in quick succession. It will start affecting Pakistan from Friday night. This system will also cause widespread snow in higher reaches and rainfall in the plains of Pakistan and Northwest India.
