ISLAMABAD – Winter chill has engulfed Islamabad and its surrounding leading to a marked drop in temperature after the rainfall continued for the second consecutive day on Sunday.

Light to heavy rain along with thunderstorms lashed Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Saturday evening and continued all day Sunday, bringing down the mercury level. Heavy downpour in the last two days has left many streets in the twin cities waterlogged.

The chill in the air has also compelled residents of the capital city to prepare for winter to keep their homes warm and cozy.

Though the winter has yet to properly set in, some of the residents in Chak Shehzad area complained about low gas pressures as the mercury dropped.

Heaviest pre-winter rains in Pakistan’s history

The current rainfall is some of the heaviest pre-winter rains that Pakistan has witnessed in recent years, according to experts.

“This is the heaviest pre-winter rainfall in Pakistan’s history and has affected more than 80 per cent of country,” said Dr Muhammad Hanif, spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

“This signifies that winter, which could be harsher and more prolonged this year, has arrived.”

Heavy precipitation, including rain and snow, also triggered landslides in the northern parts of the country on Sunday.

Islamabad receives record 135mm pre-winter rain

The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi received the highest amount of rainfall in the country, 81mm and 135mm, respectively, with Saidpur receiving 137mm, Zero Point 127, Golra 107, Bokra 94, Shamsabad 131and Chaklala 102mm.

This brought the maximum temperature in the capital down from 28 degrees on Saturday to a chilly 16 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

The PMD spokesperson said that extreme weather conditions are visible across the Northern Hemisphere and this unexpected spell of heavy precipitation could be part of that cycle.

Flights diverted

Bad weather in Islamabad also led to diversion of two flights from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad to Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore. PK702 from Manchester to Islamabad was diverted to Lahore while Shaheen Airline NL 121 from Karachi to Islamabad was diverted to Lahore.

Tweets on Islamabad’s first winter rainfall

Yesterday, Islamabad received 136mm of rain. That’s more that it’s received in the whole month of Oct since 1931. https://t.co/9WL7qi2JG9 — Asad Hashim (@AsadHashim) October 26, 2015

It’s been raining in Islamabad/Rawalpindi for the last 2 days. Love this weather. Cozy, slow and kind. 😉 — Snober Alan Abbasi (@snobers) October 25, 2015

What gorgeous weather in Islamabad but hoping & praying everyone safe & warm in this rain. Nature is powerful,beautiful & can be merciless?? — Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) October 24, 2015

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Islamabad Scene