The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in a weather advisory issued on Monday, advised authorities to ensure all necessary preparations and response measures ahead of an expected cold wave in the country.

In a statement issued, the NDMA said that a “westerly wave” will grip the western parts of the country, resulting in rain and snowfall from tonight and till January 2.

It said that the system was going to grip “most upper and central parts of the country on Dec 31 and persist in the upper regions till the morning of January 2“.

According to the NDMA, “snowfall may lead to road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch and Haveli from the night of Dec 30 till the morning of January 2.”

It also projected a likelihood of “landslides and avalanches in the hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during the same period“.

The authority advised tourists to exercise caution and “avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable and high-altitude areas”. In central and southern Punjab as well as Sindh, fog conditions are expected during the wet spell, it said.

It added that, “in view of the anticipated conditions, NDMA has advised all concerned provincial disaster management authorities, the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority, the State Disaster Management Authority and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, to ensure all necessary preparedness and response measures“.

It said in its advisory said that relevant authorties “have been urged to remain vigilant, ensure timely dissemination of information, keep emergency response teams on alert, and take proactive measures to minimise potential risks to life, property and critical infrastructure.”

The statement added that the NDMA was “closely monitoring the situation”.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in its weather advisory had warned of rain and thunderstorms, with snowfall over the hills, in most parts of the country during the coming week.

It added that daytime temperatures were expected to drop further, particularly after the system passes.

In October, a report on Pakistan’s monsoon floods, compiled by the Intersector Coordination Group in collaboration with other partners, stated the country is likely to face one of its coldest winter this year in decades due to the La Nina climate pattern.