Last updated: 11 November 2026
What happened
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast rain, wind and thunderstorms, with snowfall over the hills, across the upper parts of Pakistan over the next two to three days. A shallow westerly wave is moving into the western and northern parts of the country. It is expected to strengthen on Nov 12 and persist over the upper regions until the morning of Nov 14.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, rain, wind and thunderstorms, with snowfall over the hills, are expected until the afternoon of Nov 14, with occasional breaks. The Met Office named Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar among the districts in the forecast.
The same system is bringing rain and thunderstorms to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Swat, Dir and Mansehra, until the morning of Nov 14, with isolated heavy falls, hailstorms and snow over the mountains. Light rain is also expected in Islamabad, the Potohar region and Murree today, with more rain forecast for Lahore and other Punjab cities on Nov 12 and 13.
The Met Office said light snowfall over high mountains and glaciers is possible during the wet spell, daytime temperatures should fall by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, and patchy fog is likely over the plains once the spell passes. It has asked provincial and district authorities to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures.
What it means for travellers
If you are travelling in Gilgit-Baltistan this week, expect wet roads, low cloud and possible delays. Mountain flights to Gilgit and Skardu are weather dependent, and a westerly wave is exactly the kind of system that grounds them, so build a buffer day into any plan that depends on flying out. Road travel is the fallback, but rain on mountain roads means slower driving and a higher chance of landslides and blockages, so check conditions each morning rather than trusting yesterday’s all clear.
Pack for cold and wet weather even in the valleys. Daytime temperatures are set to drop by 2 to 4 degrees, and snow is forecast over the hills, so warm layers, a waterproof shell and sturdy footwear matter more than usual this week. Babusar Pass is already closed for winter, so the Karakoram Highway is the road route in and out. Our winter guide for Gilgit-Baltistan explains what the cold season means for roads and flights, and our Lahore to Skardu by air guide covers flight delays and cancellation rights.
What to watch
Watch the Met Office updates as the system peaks on Nov 12, and check flight status on the morning of travel, not the night before. If you are driving, confirm road conditions with your hotel or driver before departure, and watch the forecast for Nov 14, when the system should clear. We will update this post if the forecast changes or if road closures are announced.
Source: Dawn, “Rain, snow in northern parts of the country from today”, 11 November 2026. https://www.dawn.com/news/2043674
