Met dept predicts heavy rains across Pakistan from Tuesday

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted heavy rainfalls in Sindh, including Karachi, and Balochistan on Tuesday.

According to the PMD, rain accompanied by thundershowers is expected to break the ongoing heat spell across the country. Additionally, significant downpours are likely in the upper and central parts of Pakistan from July 10 to July 15.

Despite scattered downpours in these regions, Pakistan's weather has remained predominantly humid. However, ongoing monsoon activity is expected to influence the weather in the coming days, as per the latest update from the Met Office.

"The Met Office has informed that more monsoon currents are likely to penetrate from the Arabian Sea into the upper parts of the country starting from July 10," the update stated.

The Kashmir region is anticipated to experience the longest duration of monsoon showers. Under this weather system, intermittent rain accompanied by wind and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls, are expected in Kashmir's Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur areas from July 10 to 16.

Thundershowers accompanied by wind and isolated heavy falls are forecasted in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Tala Gang, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Pakpattan, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, and Mianwali from the evening of July 10 till 15 with occasional breaks.

Read also: Karachi relishes cool relief as rain brings respite from intense heat

Rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in other parts of Punjab including Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, DG Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahimyar Khan, and Layyah from July 12 to 14.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Hangu, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, thundershowers accompanied by wind and isolated heavy falls are expected from July 11 to 15 with intermittent interruptions.

Eastern parts of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Ziarat, Zhob, Barkhan, Musa Khel, and Shirani, are likely to experience rain accompanied by wind, thunder, and lightning today and tomorrow (July 8-9). Showers are expected to resume on July 12 and continue till July 14 after a brief hiatus. However, most districts in Balochistan will experience mainly hot and humid weather.

In Sindh, apart from areas like Jacobabad, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Qamber Shahdadkot, Larkana, Dadu, Padidan, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Badin, Sajawal, Thatta, and Karachi, where rain with wind and thunder is expected today and tomorrow with occasional breaks, the wet spell is likely to return to Sukkur, Larkana, and Jacobabad on July 12 and 13.

Gilgit-Baltistan is predicted to experience mainly partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions. However, rainfall activity is also expected in areas including Diamir, Astore, Skardu, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar from July 11 to 15 with intermittent interruptions.

Read: Heavy rain, thunderstorms forecast across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Regarding potential impacts and advisory, the Met Office has issued warnings for increased inflows in local nullahs and streams in Murree, Galliyat, Manshera, Kohistan, and Kashmir from July 12 to 14.

There is also a possibility of urban flooding in low-lying areas of northeastern Punjab. The PMD has cautioned that landslides may disrupt roads in vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during the rain spell.

Moreover, heavy downpours, windstorms, and lightning may disrupt daily routines, potentially leading to incidents such as roof or wall collapses in slum areas and damage to weak structures like electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels.

Farmers are advised to plan their activities according to the weather forecast, while travellers and tourists are urged to exercise caution and adjust their plans according to weather conditions to avoid any untoward situations during the wet spell.

The Met Office has directed all concerned authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to mitigate risks.