‘Winter Storm creates havoc’
Rainstorms, Windstorms, Hailstorms, Thunderstorm, Blizzards, Avalanches – These are the things that Pakistan has witnessed in the last three days, astonishingly whole country has been affected by the PWP’s most talked severe winter storm (western disturbance ’18’) in the last few days. This deadly storm has brought countrywide precipitation and a coldwave, as the country was going through one of it’s driest winter.
According to private media, at least 14 people have died in weather-related incidents. A lightning strike also killed a horse and two donkeys in Gujranwala, Punjab.
What made it so strong?
A low pressure area formed over Rajasthan due to which moisture laden winds from the Arabia sea and the Bay of Bengal started penetrating into the western system, the moist and warm air from the Arabian Sea was drawn northward along the jet-stream that was extending from middle east to northern India, where it interacted with cold air mass of Russia. The rain and snow were severe over the northern areas while the southern parts received moderate showers. Southern port city of Karachi witnessed an isolated hail along with showers. Following was the amount of rainfall that occurred in various cities of Pakistan;
- Rawalakot got 219 mm.
- Saidu Sharif got 212 mm.
- Kakol got 209 mm.
- Chirat got 184 mm.
- Malam Jaba got 183 mm.
- Rawalpindi got 174 mm.
- Islamabad got 173 mm.
- Risalpur got 168 mm.
- Lower Dir got 149 mm.
- Muzaffarabad got 130 mm.
- Peshawar got 115 mm.
- Balakot got 110 mm.
- Many cities received above 50 mm rainfall.
The Avalanche on February 3 buried six people in upper Dir. Following is the quantity of snowfall that occurred in the northern areas;
- Malam Jabba got 10 foot.
- Kalam got 6 foot.
- Murree got 2 foot.
- Parachinar got 2 foot.
- Skardu got 2 foot.
We told you so!
Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) in its January 31 update had warned that 120+ mm rainfall could occur in the northern areas while there were chances of blizzard as well. Western disturbance ’18’ also followed a track as foretold by PWP in the January 31 update which is stated below;
“On the afternoon of February 2, Western disturbance ’18′ would be over NW Iran and adjoining Afghanistan by the same night, it would be over Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan (north-western Balochistan). During that time, trough from this WD would be over western Balochistan extending till Makran coast with thunderstorms. On February 3, it would be over central Afghanistan but its trough would cover much of the country extending till Karachi coast. On February 4, the western disturbance ’18′ would be situated over northern areas of Pakistan while the thunderstorms over southern parts over Sindh including Karachi could move into Indian state of Gujarat. Western disturbance ’18′ would stay over the northern areas from February 4 till February 5 night where it would weaken on February 6 morning and start moving into north-western India where it would stay till February 7 before finally its clouds spreading and it would be much dissipated.
On February 4, weak cold winds may penetrate into the country especially the northern areas.”
List of countries affected by storm
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, India, China and Nepal are the countries that have been affected by this weather system. Following are the major highlighted affects of Western disturbance ’18’;
- It brought severe windstorms in Egypt and Iraq.
- It brought drizzle in Dubai, UAE.
- It brought 200+ rainfall in North Pakistan.
Is it the strongest Winter storm?
It can be compared to the February 2003 storm that occurred in the third week of February and sub-merged many cities of the country including Hyderabad. However the 2003 storm was much powerful than the 2013 storm as it flooded the southern, central and northern areas of the country; and lasted till a week, it also brought unconfirmed tornadoes. 2003 storm’s highest rain was 314 mm in Murree while 2013 storm’s highest rain is 219 mm in Rawalakot!
But the storm of 2013 break the snowfall records – That is amazing!
Pakistan Weather Portal 
congrats Babbarbhai..excellent cover up of the storm…have refered to your site in vagaries also…thanks
Thank you Rajesh ! Glad to hear it from you after a long time 🙂 This storm was really impressive.
Excellent Work
Thanks Shahid 🙂
Excellent coverage !
Thanks Abdul 🙂
you have done an excellent job vry well and impressive coverage. i think storm is not much impressive u r totally impressive due to such a wonderful job
Thank you Ali, hahaha i really liked this line “i think storm is not much impressive u r totally impressive ” 😀
you have done an excellent job vry well and impressive coverage. i think storm was not much impressive but u r totally impressive due to such a wonderful job
It broke several snow fall records..i think its safe to say that this winter storm was impressive :p
Yes, Snowfall records are broken.
well done Babar bhi,we are proud of genius people like u,also thankful to u,by such forecast precocious life are also saved,God bless u and carry on…we eagerly wait for ur forecast in winter and summer!
Thank you Amjad so much for those kind words 🙂
specially i am anxiously w8ing for ur forecasts in monsoon season because ur forecast is outstanding.
PWP usually publishes the monsoon update from late April/May/June.
r babar bhai hm ne to ab mausam ki news suna hi nai krni sidha apko cmnt post kar diya kren ge simple wrna sab mausam ko psnd krne wale news dhond rae hote hain meri tarag par ab ap hi se poochna krna hai.
Nice web just keep up the hard work and improve more on 90% on the basis of information which comes from the weather system !!!
Thank you Jawad..
aoa. i want to ask that is another spell of winter is coming during next few days or spring season is just going to start????
Another western disturbance ’19’ is coming in the coming week.
very detailed article. very nice. this WD was indeed very powerful. stormy winds blew continuously for 2 days with fearsome bursts of thunder and lightening. but now its nice and calm……. 🙂
Thank you Umar Khan 😀 Yes, the storm was really impressive 🙂
is coming wd 19 is strong that it can creat some t storms moderate to heavy showers in upper parts specially including lahore???
Not strong, may cause moderate rainfall with thunder and fast winds.
yes same question bhai as asked by muhammad ali
plzz tell about weather of lahore in coming days?? is there chances of rain showers?
Chances of showers..
hello bhai. won’t you issue update for the last two weeks of february…..?
Published..
is there is a chance of heavy rainfall in nothern balochistan?
No chances till few days..
thanks …but how much mm rain will quetta get in febuary
Below 15 to 20 mm.
@pwp, jeddah never got 100+ rain, in fact, this system barely affected jeddah. but overall, I appreciate your diligent efforts and a very informative, creative, and detailed article. Nice Job 😀
Yes, this was an error from my side, thanks for pointing it out.
verry beautiful weather in lahore this day
i m visit the full view in space please send me videos & picture