PMD warns of urban flooding

The port city is expecting a wet weekend as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a forecast that heavy rains with thunderstorms are expected to drench the metropolis from July 3 to 5.

Strong gusts of winds are likely to sweep through the city posing dangers of signboards and trees falling down. As per PMD, there are fears of urban flooding as the downpour is expected be greater than that witnessed last year.

The sea will be rough with high and choppy waves churning up with the storm, PMD said, warning fishermen to be careful. Moreover, picnickers are also advised to stay away from sea due to fear of being swept away by high tides.

According to PMD Chief Meteorologist Karachi Sardar Sarfraz, successive monsoon rains between July 1 and 15 could cause urban flooding. The second spell of monsoon rain will start in Karachi from July 7 or 8, which will last for three to four days over Eidul Azha.

According to the PMD synopsis, monsoon weather system after drenching Gujrat and Maharashtra in India has entered Sindh via Tharparkar and moving westwards dumping rain on southern districts of Badin, Thatta and Karachi. It will then move further northwest along Balochistan's coastline, the PMD said on the basis of satellite generated weather map.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2022.