Evening shower alleviates summer heat

The sweltering summer heat in parts of Punjab, including the provincial capital Lahore, was alleviated by a refreshing evening shower on Saturday.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts another spell of rain in the coming days, promising further relief.

Following the downpour, the temperature in Lahore dropped to a refreshing below 30 degrees Celsius. Residents, who have been enduring frequent power outages, rejoiced as the rain provided much-needed respite.

However, the rainfall also had a significant adverse impact across Lahore, with temporary flooding in low-lying areas. Upscale neighbourhoods such as Gulberg, Cavalry Ground, and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) were also affected.Despite the inconvenience caused to motorists and pedestrians, there were no reports of casualties or significant property damage.

The accompanying strong winds and rain disrupted the local electricity supply, leaving many areas without power and water for several hours. The utility services were later restored.

According to the latest weather forecast, a shallow westerly wave is present over northeast Punjab, Kashmir, and adjoining hilly areas. While hot and humid weather is expected in most districts of Punjab, rain and windstorms or thundershowers are anticipated in isolated areas, including Lahore, Sahiwal, Okara, and Bahawalnagar. Partly cloudy weather with rain and wind/thundershowers is also expected in Kashmir.

In the past 24 hours, rain and wind-thunderstorms occurred at isolated places in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. The highest temperature recorded in Punjab was 42.1°C in Khanpur, while the lowest was 17.6°C in Murree.

Flood warning

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned that the region is expected to experience 35% more rainfall than usual this year, raising concerns about potential urban flooding. The weather forecast indicates an unusually high volume of rain, necessitating thorough preparations to protect communities and infrastructure.

In anticipation of the heightened risk, PDMA has intensified efforts to clean rivers and canals to ensure smooth water flow and minimise flooding risks. The authority has issued an alert for the expected heavy rain across various districts of Punjab and instructed all district administrations to remain vigilant, emphasising that all relevant departments should be prepared to handle emergencies.

The district emergency operation centres, including the provincial control room, have also been alerted. The PDMA has also put Rescue 1122 and other agencies on standby, urging authorities to ensure timely water drainage from residential areas. Citizens were advised to exercise caution, avoid power poles and hanging wires, and keep children away from water-logged low-lying areas.