PMD warns of widespread rain, windstorms in north and centre from tonight

ISLAMABAD: A fresh weather system is expected to affect much of Pakistan over the next two days, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department warning of rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in many northern and central districts and cautioning that some urban centres could face flooding.

In a press release issued on Monday, the PMD said moist air from the Arabian Sea was moving into the upper parts of the country, while currents from the Bay of Bengal were likely to reach the northeastern areas from Monday evening. It added that a westerly wave was also expected to approach the upper regions by Monday night.

The department said the forecast largely excludes Sindh, where weather is expected to remain mainly hot and very humid in most areas, though a few districts may still receive isolated rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Areas expected to receive rain

According to the PMD, scattered rain, windstorms and thundershowers are likely in Kashmir from Monday night to Wednesday, with occasional gaps. The forecast covers Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the department has forecast scattered rain, windstorms and thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, from Monday night until Wednesday 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 and Hangu. It said the same conditions would begin on Tuesday in Waziristan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan.

For Punjab and the Islamabad region, the PMD said scattered rain, windstorms and thundershowers, including isolated heavy rainfall, were expected from Monday night to Wednesday in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Okara and Kasur.

It further said that Noorpur Thal, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur were likely to receive similar weather from Tuesday to Wednesday, also with occasional gaps.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar are expected to receive rain, windstorms and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Balochistan, isolated rain, windstorms and thundershowers are forecast from Tuesday night through Wednesday in the northern and northeastern parts of Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Musakhel, Nasirabad, Harnai, Sibi, Barkhan, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar.

For Sindh, the PMD said mainly hot and very humid conditions would prevail in most places. However, isolated rain, windstorms and thundershowers are likely in Tharparkar, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Qambar Shahdadkot and Naushahro Feroze on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Warnings and advisory

The meteorological department said strong winds and lightning may damage exposed and vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electricity poles and billboards. It also warned that vulnerable locations in upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir could face landslides on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The PMD added that water levels may rise in local streams and in hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan. It also warned of localised urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tourists and travellers have been advised to remain careful and avoid unnecessary movement, while farmers have been asked to schedule crop-related activities in line with the forecast. The PMD said the current spell of heat and humidity is expected to ease during the forecast period.