Heavy rainfall, rising temperatures, and accelerated glacier melt could trigger Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), flash floods, and landslides across northern Pakistan next week.
Pakistan’s northern mountain regions are facing an increased risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a fresh warning for Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ahead of an approaching westerly weather system.
According to the PMD, the weather system is expected to reach northern Pakistan next week, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and overcast conditions across glacier-fed valleys. With temperatures already remaining above seasonal averages, the combination of intense rainfall and accelerated glacier melt could rapidly increase water levels in rivers and glacial lakes.
The department warned that expanding glacial lakes and excessive meltwater may weaken natural ice and moraine dams, potentially triggering sudden GLOFs. Such floods can release massive volumes of water within minutes, causing widespread damage to roads, bridges, homes, farmland, and other infrastructure downstream.
The PMD also cautioned that flash floods, rising river levels, landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows remain significant threats, particularly in vulnerable mountain valleys where heavy rainfall and melting snow coincide.
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