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Below normal winter rains forecast

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological department has forecast below normal rainfall for this winter season, on the basis of prevailing atmospheric circulation, La Nina condition and global weather trends prior to winter period.

On all Pakistan basis, this year winter rainfall for the month of January, February and March 2000 is likely to be below normal, says a department press release.

Rainfall will not be well distributed. Some parts of the country namely North West Frontier Province, Northeast Balochistan, Upper Punjab and Kashmir are likely to receive slightly below normal rainfall.

Sindh, Balochistan and remaining areas of the Punjab may receive largely below normal rainfall.

The area weighted normal rainfall over the country for the period January to March is 74.9mm.

The dry spell over Pakistan is continuing since November 1999. The track of the western disturbances which are responsible for the winter rainfall, are still in higher latitudes and are likely to follow their normal track sometime in late January and early February.

"As such, water reservoirs, underground water table and agriculture will be facing severe water stress," the Meteorological department said. APP