Thunderstorms lash Karachi, more rain expected

PMD predicts rains till August 14, risk of urban flooding

KARACHI:

The port city’s weather turned pleasant after moderate to heavy rain hit various localities of Karachi on Wednesday during the latest monsoon spell.

The downpour continued with strong winds in different areas of the city. Malir, Scheme 33, Quaidabad, University Road, Gulshan Iqbal and Gulistan Johar received light to heavy rainfall.

🔴 Intense #Thunderstorm and Gusty winds in #Karachi. #StaySafe #PakWeather #karachirain pic.twitter.com/HME2N7Xo15

— PakWeather.com (@Pak_Weather) August 10, 2022

Intermittent rain also continued at the Super Highway and adjacent areas. Saddar, II Chundrigarh Road, Old City Area, Korangi, Landhi, Defense and Clifton also received moderate to heavy showers.

Torrential downpour with thunder lashed New Karachi, Surjani Town, North Karachi and the Northern Bypass localities of the metropolis.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain-bearing clouds are present in the east and northeast of Karachi with strong wind currents.

Read Torrential rains wreak havoc in Karachi

The PMD further said that rain will continue in the city till August 14, with at times heavy to very heavy isolated spells possible in the city.

Moderately Heavy Rainfall at Clifton!
Weather Updates PK / Karachi Doppler pic.twitter.com/oCwPPowBLw

— Weather Updates PK (@WeatherWupk) August 10, 2022

‘Monsoon emergency’

The federal government imposed an emergency in the rain and flood-affected areas on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the PMD warned of more rains in Sindh and Balochistan in the wake of two systems of monsoon currents over the next week.

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman warned that more rains were expected in the coming weeks of August, therefore, the federal cabinet had declared a monsoon emergency. “All concerned federal and provincial agencies have been advised to stay on alert and take necessary precautions,” she said.

‘Above-normal’ rainfall

The PMD forecasted “above-normal” rainfall in most parts of the country in August, warning on Sunday that heavy downpour could trigger flash flooding in hilly areas of eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

In its outlook for August, the PMD also warned of urban flooding in plain areas such as major cities of Sindh, Punjab and K-P.