Above normal rain, snowfall forecast for February

The Met Office on Wednesday forecast above normal rain and snowfall for the country with scaling down temperature during February. In the monthly weather outlook, the Met said the above normal rainfall is expected across the country with above normal snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in February. Temperature is also expected to grow gradually as the nights are likely to remain colder than normal during the current month.
"The global circulations indicate the effectiveness of westerly disturbances will remain as per normal frequency in the South Asian region including Pakistan, during the month. The weather outlook produced, based on the global Climate Models for February 2019 indicates that Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) will persist along its neutral position," the Met said, adding that the El Nino will remain in a positive phase. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) will be swinging along the neutral value during February 2019.
Drought: Rainfall between Jan 21 and Jan 31 has widely ended the extreme dry weather spell in the country. Drought conditions also weakened in Sindh and Balochistan relatively. However several districts of the both provinces, despite rains, are faced with the moderate level of drought. In Sindh: Khairpur, Mityari, Qambar, Shadadkot, Sajawal, Sanghar, Thatta, Tharparkar and Umerkot while Awaran, Bolan, Chaghi, Kech, Kharan, Noushki, Mastung, Panjgur and Gwadar in Balochistan are still facing drought.
Farmers are advised to schedule their irrigation plans for the Rabi crop keeping in view the continuing rains. The Met said that removing of weeds from the standing crops is very important to help crops utilize soil moisture fully for a better yield. It said that measures should be taken to preserve the crops and nurseries from damaging impacts of the extreme cold weather.
Weather in the next 24 hours: Scattered rain thunderstorm and snowfall over the hills are expected in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore Divisions, besides Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Isolated fall are likely in Malakand, Hazara, Mardan and Sargodha Divisions. "Westerly wave is affecting upper parts of the country and may persist till Friday," the Met said.
In the last 24 hours: Scattered rain thunderstorm occurred in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Quetta and Kalat divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Cold and dry weather prevailed elsewhere in the country.
Maximum rainfall was recorded in Upper Dir 34mm, Islamabad International Airport 25mm, Malamjabba 23mm, Mirkhani, Saidu Sharif 20 mm, each, Golra 19mm, Bokra 17mm, Pattan 16mm, Saidpur and Zero Point 14mm, each, Chitral 13mm, Risalpur, Chaklala and Chakwal 12mm, each, Cherat and Shamsabad 11mm, each, Kalam 10mm, Drosh 9 mm, Parachinar 8mm, Joharabad 6mm and Kakul 5mm. Malamjabba received 9 inches of snowfall, Kalam 5, Astore 2.7, Dir 2 and Bagrote 0.6. Minimum temperature was recorded as minus 7 degrees Celsius in Bagrote, minus 5, each, in Kalam, Kalat and Gupis, minus 4 in Skardu, minus 3, each, in Hunza, Malamjabba and Parachinar, minus 2, each, in Astore, Quetta and Dalbandin and minus 1, each, in Murree, and Drosh.