Weather update; more monsoon rains likely in Lahore, Punjab

Significant monsoon rains accompanied by gusty winds are expected in Lahore and various parts of Punjab starting Thursday night and continuing over the next two days, with occasional breaks.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating the upper and central regions of Pakistan. Additionally, strong currents from the Bay of Bengal are expected to reach the upper regions tonight, along with a westerly wave.

These conditions are forecasted to bring monsoon rains with isolated heavy downpours and gusty winds in areas including Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Jhelum, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, and Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday night.

On Friday and Saturday, intermittent monsoon rains with isolated heavy falls and gusty winds are expected to continue in these regions and extend to Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The widespread rains are likely to trigger flash flooding in local nullahs and streams in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab, and hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Significant rainfall may also lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha, and Faisalabad from Thursday night through Saturday. Landslides could potentially disrupt traffic in vulnerable hilly areas like Murree and Galliyat.

For Lahore, the maximum temperature is expected to range between 34-36°C on Friday and 33-35°C on Saturday.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains have already occurred in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, the Potohar region, and parts of northeast and central Punjab over the past 24 hours.

Rainfall (mm): Islamabad (Saidpur 64, Golra 28, City 09, Airport 04, Bokra 01), Jhelum 42, Mangla 27, Narowal 23, Gujranwala 20, Sialkot (Airport 19, City 06), Attock 18, Okara 10, Murree 06, Gujrat 03, Rawalpindi (Chaklala, Shamsabad, Kacheri 01), Mandi Bahauddin 01

Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan remained the hottest places in Punjab where the maximum temperature was recorded at 40°C. The maximum temperature in Multan was recorded at 39°C.

In Lahore, maximum temperature was recorded at 35°C. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded at 73 percent.