ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday received first winter rainfall, which not only added chill to the weather but brought miseries to many residents of the Pindi areas hit by gas shortage.

The cold and moist winds coming from west and the north contributed the rain that hit wide-ranging areas of orthern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Rawalpindi had a limited sprinkling of 1mm, whereas the federal capital received 3mm rainfall, Murree 4mm, Parachinar, Muzaffarabad and Dir 2mm while Malamjabba had a significant amount of 12mm downpour.

The precipitation also significantly lowered the day’s temperature in the twin cites by almost 10 degrees centigrade to 13 degrees in Rawalpindi and 16 degrees in Islamabad.

As the shallow trough of westerly wave is still entering the country from the north and the west, the Met office has predicted more rain during next two days in the areas that received rainfall on Tuesday and north western Balochistan.

Experts believe that the rain will have a positive effect on crop also provides relief to people facing allergies because of dry weather.

“Dust is common during this period as November is mainly a dry month,” said a Met office official and added: “The winter rainfall starts from second week of December and the present wet spell is a normal.”

The rains have also been welcomed by the farmers of northern Punjab and most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which fall in rain-fed (barani) agriculture areas.

“It is time to water the fields because the wheat crops have started sprouting,” said Zahid Hussain Shah, a farmer in Taxila. “While for those who have not completed sowing, the conditions are ripe,” he added.

The Met office has also issued guidelines regarding watering the fields in the wake of rainfall in coming days, and advised the farmers to complete sowing before December 15.

It has also predicted scattered rain with snow over hills in Northern Punjab including Muree in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Murree and adjoining areas received first spell of snowfall in the afternoon.

A large number of tourists from Rawalpindi and Islamabad were seen enjoying and playing in the snow. As a preemptive measure the administration threw salt on the roads, which prevents the snow from turning into ice and helps vehicles have grip over the roads.