PMD forecasts widespread rain, thunderstorms, flash floods and urban flooding across Pakistan as a fresh monsoon system remains active from July 29 through early August.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to experience another widespread spell of monsoon rainfall from July 29 to August 5, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warning of heavy to very heavy rain, urban flooding, flash floods and landslides across multiple regions of the country.
According to the PMD, moist monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal will begin affecting upper and central Pakistan from July 29. A westerly weather system is also expected to strengthen over the northern regions from August 1, increasing the intensity of rainfall and thunderstorms.
The forecast indicates that Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and the Galliyat are likely to receive frequent rain and thunderstorms through August 4. Heavy rainfall is also expected in Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Sialkot.
In Punjab, cities including Lahore, Narowal, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sargodha and Sahiwal are expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall. Southern districts such as Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are likely to be affected between July 31 and August 3.
Sindh is forecast to receive rain from July 31 to August 2. Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Thatta are among the districts expected to experience thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to remain under widespread rain and thunderstorm activity from July 29 to August 5. Heavy rainfall is expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Nowshera, Charsadda, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan.
Balochistan is expected to receive rain and thunderstorms from July 31 to August 3, affecting Zhob, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Turbat, Panjgur and Gwadar. Rain is also forecast across Azad Kashmir through August 5 and parts of Gilgit-Baltistan until August 6.
The PMD has warned that low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and Nowshera could experience urban flooding between July 30 and August 4. Similar flooding risks have been highlighted for Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot in Sindh from July 31 to August 2.
Authorities have also cautioned about possible flash floods in streams and nullahs, hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan, and landslides in vulnerable mountainous regions, including Murree, Galliyat, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.
The PMD advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel in mountainous areas during periods of heavy rainfall. Farmers have also been urged to plan agricultural activities according to weather conditions and take precautionary measures to safeguard crops and livestock. Strong winds and lightning may damage weak structures, electricity poles, solar panels and roadside billboards during the monsoon spell.
About The Author
