PMD says monsoon spell to begin across country from first week of July

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast a fresh monsoon spell across the country from the first week of July, with rain, windstorms and thunderstorms expected in several regions and warnings issued for possible flash flooding, urban flooding and landslides.

In an advisory issued on Monday, the PMD said a westerly wave was likely to enter the upper parts of the country from June 30, while moist currents from the Arabian Sea were continuing to move into eastern and central areas. It added that moisture from the Bay of Bengal was expected to reach upper parts from July 2.

The department said the system was likely to bring scattered rain, windstorms and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls, to parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir from July 1 to July 6. The areas named in the forecast include Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, similar weather is expected from July 1 to July 5 with occasional gaps in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu, Waziristan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan.

Punjab, Islamabad and northern areas in forecast

The PMD said rainfall was also expected from July 1 to July 6 in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot and Narowal.

It said a second group of districts in Punjab — Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Okara, Kasur, Noor Pur Thal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur — was likely to receive rain from July 3 to July 5, also with occasional gaps.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, the advisory said rain and thunderstorms were expected from July 1 to July 5 in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar.

For Balochistan, the department forecast rainfall in northern and northeastern districts, including Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai, Sibbi, Barkhan and Dera Bugti, from July 1 to July 4.

In Sindh, rain is expected on July 3 and July 4 in Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Qambar Shahdadkot and Naushahro Feroze.

Warnings for flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage

The PMD warned that the weather system could damage infrastructure including solar panels, electric poles and billboards. It also said there was a risk of landslides in vulnerable parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir between July 1 and July 6.

The department further cautioned that local streams and nullahs in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan, could experience flash flooding from July 2 to July 5. It also warned of possible urban or flash flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad from July 1 to July 4.

The PMD advised tourists to remain cautious and avoid travel during the forecast period. It also asked farmers to plan crop activities accordingly, and said the prevailing hot and humid weather was likely to ease during this spell.