The met office in its weather report said that a westerly wave is affecting western parts of Pakistan and likely to persist in upper parts of the country till Friday. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) yesterday forecast widespread rain thunderstorm with gusty winds and snowfall over the hills in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad, Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, and Kashmir. Lahore and adjoining areas received sporadic rainfall with thunderstorm this morning as weather pundits forecast the wet spell to continue for 24 to 36 hours. Sahiwal, Narowal, Harappa, Cheechawatani, Noor Shah, Arifwala and Khushab also received rainfall with thunderstorm. The mercury dropped with the fresh wet spell in the region. Gilgit-Baltistan regious receiving snowfall for last four days as 2.5 snowfall recorded in upper areas and one ft at valleys. The mercury dropped to minus four in Skardu after snowfall. Kalat in Balochistan also received snowfall at hills and rainfall in valleys pushing the temperature to minus three in the region. Ziarat valley also witnessed a hide and seek of the snowfall and rain yesterday as tourists thronged to the scenic valley to witness snowy weather. The minimum 15 degree Celsius temperature recorded in Karachi on Thursday morning with partially cloudy weather in the port city. Published in Daily Times, February 15th 2019.