PMD forecasts heavy rain, hailstorms and strong winds in parts of Pakistan from May 2

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a weather advisory warning of dust-thunderstorms, heavy rain, hailstorms and strong winds in several parts of the country over the next few days.

In its advisory issued on Friday, the Met Office said a fresh westerly wave is expected to reach the northwestern parts of Pakistan on the evening of May 2 and remain over the upper regions until the morning of May 5.

The PMD said upper and central parts of the country are likely to receive widespread dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms and strong winds during this period. The ongoing intense heat is expected to subside during the forecast window.

According to the department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to be the province most affected by the weather system. Dust-thunderstorms, isolated heavy falls and hailstorms are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan from the evening of May 2 to May 4, with occasional gaps.

The Met Office said Punjab and Islamabad are also expected to be significantly affected. It forecast dust-thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Narowal from the evening of May 2 through the night of May 4.

Rain-windstorms and thunderstorms, along with isolated hailstorms, may affect Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan and Khanewal on May 3 and 4.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche and Shigar, rain-wind and thunderstorm activity is expected from the night of May 2 until May 5.

The PMD said a similar weather pattern is likely in Azad Kashmir, where Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur may receive heavy falls and hailstorms during the same period.

In Balochistan, windstorms and thunderstorms are expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Kohlu, Zhob, Barkhan and Loralai from May 2 to May 4.

Upper Sindh is also likely to experience dust-thunderstorms on May 2 and 3, the advisory said.

Possible impacts

The Met Office warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, particularly on May 3 and May 4.

Monsoon outlook

Separately, the PMD said El Nino conditions are likely to develop in South Asia during the 2026 monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

Based on the global climate model forecasts, there is strong consensus among experts that the El Nino conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season.

the Met Office said in a statement.