Fresh monsoon rains to soak Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Monday that a fresh monsoon spell is expected to set in across the country from the first week of July, with rain, windstorms and thunderstorms forecast in several regions.

In an advisory, the department said a westerly wave is likely to enter the upper parts of the country from June 30. It added that moist currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously reaching eastern and central areas, while moisture from the Bay of Bengal is expected to move into upper parts from July 2.

Under the influence of this weather system, the PMD said scattered rain, windstorm and thundershower activity, with isolated heavy falls, is expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir from July 1 to July 6. The areas listed include Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, similar weather is forecast 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.

The PMD said Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot and Narowal are expected to receive rain from July 1 to July 6. It added that Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Okara, Kasur, Noor Pur Thal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, DG Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur are likely to receive rain from July 3 to July 5.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from July 1 to July 5, also with occasional gaps. In Balochistan, rainfall is expected in northern and northeastern districts, including Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai, Sibbi, Barkhan and Dera Bugti, from July 1 to July 4.

For Sindh, the department predicted rain in Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Qambar Shahdadkot and Naushahro Feroze on July 3 and July 4.

Warnings and advisories

The PMD warned that the weather system may cause damage to infrastructure, including solar panels, electric poles and billboards. It also said there is a possibility of landslides in vulnerable areas 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 DG Khan, could experience flash flooding from July 2 to July 5. It also warned of 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 careful and avoid travel during the forecast period. It also asked farmers to plan crop-related activities accordingly, adding that the prevailing hot and humid weather is likely to ease during this spell.