PMD forecasts rain, thunderstorms in northern Pakistan

Authorities warn of landslides, flash floods in vulnerable areas.

PMD forecasts rain, thunderstorms in northern Pakistan
PMD forecasts rain, thunderstorms in northern Pakistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain-windstorms and thunderstorms in Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, while hot and dry weather is likely to persist in other parts of the country.

The Met Office warned that heavy rainfall during the night may trigger landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas, including upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir. It also cautioned about possible flash flooding in local streams and nullahs.

It further said hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and rain-fed waterways in northeastern Balochistan could experience flash flooding.

Urban flooding is also likely in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Faisalabad.

Strong winds and lightning may damage weak structures such as electric poles, billboards, and solar panels.

In Islamabad, hot conditions will prevail during the day, while rain with gusty winds and thunderstorms is expected during morning and night hours.

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In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rainfall is expected in several districts, including Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Chitral, Battagram, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Peshawar, Hangu, Kurram, and Waziristan, while other areas will remain hot and dry.

Punjab is also likely to receive widespread rain, particularly in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Khushab, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, and Narowal. Isolated showers may also affect Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, and Dera Ghazi Khan later in the day.

Sindh will remain very hot and humid, though partly cloudy conditions are expected along coastal areas. Isolated rain-windstorms are forecast in Shahdadkot, Dadu, Sukkur, and Jacobabad during evening and night hours.

Most parts of Balochistan are expected to stay hot and dry, although rain-windstorms are likely in Zhob, Sherani, Naseerabad, Sibi, Musakhel, Barkhan, and Khuzdar.

In Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, partly cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms is expected, with isolated heavy rainfall possible in Kashmir.

Over the past 24 hours, rain-windstorms and thunderstorms were reported across Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hot and humid conditions prevailed elsewhere.

Murree recorded the highest rainfall at 72 millimetres, followed by Islamabad Airport (48mm), Golra (39mm), and Lahore’s Nishtar Town (38mm).

The highest temperature in the country on Thursday was 46°C in Dalbandin, followed by 45°C in Nokkundi, while Sibbi and Dadu recorded 44°C each.