PMD issues GLOF alert for Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) alert for Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, warning of increased risk in view of an approaching weather system.

According to the PMD advisory, a moderate westerly wave is expected to enter the upper parts of the country from May 3, bringing widespread rain, windstorms, thunderstorms and isolated heavy downpours in northern areas.

The department said a sudden increase in temperatures followed by heavy rainfall could sharply raise the chances of GLOF events, which may lead to debris flows and flash flooding in vulnerable locations. It identified Hunza Valley, Nagar, Ghizer, Ghanche, Upper District and Astore District among the areas at risk.

The advisory urged people living in glaciated valleys to stay away from riverbanks and stream beds during rainfall and to move livestock and essential belongings to higher and safer places. It also asked that the warning be shared through SMS and social media.

Residents were further advised to keep watch on nullahs for abrupt changes in water colour, including muddiness, as well as unusual sounds that may signal grinding rocks. The PMD also directed communities to remain in close coordination with Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Committees.

Disaster management authorities were instructed to remain on alert around the clock and maintain active communication links with technical focal persons in remote valleys.

Heatwave warning for Karachi and Sindh

Separately, the PMD on Saturday issued a heatwave alert for Karachi and several districts of Sindh, cautioning that temperatures in the provincial capital could cross 41°C on Monday and reach 40°C on Sunday.

The department said hot, very hot and dry conditions are expected to persist in most parts of Sindh. Karachi may also record its hottest day on Saturday, with the feels-like temperature forecast to climb as high as 50°C.

According to the advisory, the actual temperature in Karachi may rise to 38°C on Saturday, while suburban parts of the city could see temperatures of up to 40°C. During the afternoon, however, the feels-like temperature is expected to remain between 49°C and 50°C.

The PMD warning links the broader weather pattern to two separate hazards: intense heat in Sindh and the possibility of glacial lake outburst flooding in the country’s northern mountainous regions. The department has called for precautionary measures in both areas as the weather system moves in.

The latest advisory comes as authorities prepare for possible weather-related emergencies in exposed regions, with the PMD stressing vigilance, local coordination and timely dissemination of alerts.