Sindh, Balochistan brace for more rains

PMD says Pakistan received 57.8 mm of downpours as against normal of 19.6 mm in last 30 years

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday predicted more heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan starting from Thursday (today).

It has also forecast more rains with strong winds and thunderstorms in Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The recent monsoon rains wreaked havoc across the country.

According to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, there have been 194% more rains reported countrywide so far this season since July 1, breaking the record for the last 30 years.

According to PMD statistics she shared on Twitter, Pakistan received 57.8 mm of rainfall as against the normal of 19.6 mm. Sindh received the highest rainfall at 625% more than what was recorded 30 years ago. This is followed by Balochistan with 501.

Punjab received 61% more rain this season. K-P and AJK received 11.11% downpours.

According to the PMD report, Sindh received 98 mm  as against 13.6 mm of its normal rainfall, Balochistan witnessed 57.8 mm of rainfall as against 9.6 mm and  Punjab experienced 55 mm of rainfall in the current monsoon season as against 34 mm.

In K-P, there was 38 mm of rainfall as against 34 mm, while AJK received 60.7 mm of rainfall as against 54 mm. The only region in the country that experienced less than usual rainfall is G-B, where it rained 42% less than normal.

According to a report by the climate change ministry, during the last two weeks of the current monsoon season, Pakistan received a total of 38 mm more rainfall in comparison with what it did in the last 30 years. Sindh received 84 mm, Balochistan 48 mm and Punjab 21 mm more rains.

Read Sindh, Balochistan receive over 500% more rain than 30-year average in July

Heavy rains are expected in lower parts of Sindh, upper and central K-P, upper and central Punjab and AJK. Due to heavy rains, low lying areas in AJK, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Jhang, Mianwali, Peshawar, Swabi and Mardan are at risk of flooding. Local canals in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana and Jacobabad might overflow. Balochistan’s rainwater canals are also at risk of flooding.

According to the PMD, apart from the weather being overcast in Islamabad, intermittent rain with strong winds and thunderstorms are likely.

Heavy rains with strong winds and thundershowers are expected in most areas of Punjab. They include  Rawalpindi, Murree, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Jhang and Lahore.

In K-P, heavy rains are also expected in most districts. Heavy downpours are expected in Dir, Kohistan, Buner, Bannu, Mardan, Peshawar, Karam, Nowshera, Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad and their surrounding areas.

In Sindh, thundershowers are expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Mithi, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Islamkot, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Dadu.

Sibi, Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbela, Turbat, Awaran, Panjgur and Gwadar in Balochistan are expected to receive heavy rains with strong winds and thundershowers. There are chances of rain in some places in G-B.