Heavy rains, thunderstorms predicted in Northern Pakistan

Residents in AJK, G-B advised to take precautions as rising water levels may trigger flash floods in rivers, streams

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The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather advisory for northern Pakistan, warning of potential flash floods and landslides due to thunderstorms and heavy rainfall expected Saturday night.

According to the NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre, a weather system entering northern Pakistan from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal is forecast to interact with a westerly disturbance, bringing intense rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms to Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

خیبر پختونخوا کے اضلاع میں طوفان اور بارش الرٹ:

نیشنل ایمرجنسیز آپریشن سینٹر کے مطابق آج شام و رات کے دوران چترال، دیر، سوات، شانگلہ، بونیر، ملاکنڈ، کوہاٹ، نوشہرہ، چارسدہ، صوابی، پشاور، مردان، ایبٹ آباد، مانسہرہ، ہری پور اور ملحقہ علاقوں میں بارش، گرج چمک اور آندھی کا متوقع pic.twitter.com/Dx5lu8HFLg

— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) June 21, 2025

“Residents in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are advised to take precautionary measures,” the NDMA said, adding that rising water levels could trigger flash flooding in rivers and streams.

Dust storms, rain, and thundershowers are also expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Upper Punjab, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan over the next 12 hours. 

The severe weather is expected to affect several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Kohat, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Haripur.

Strong winds and dust storms could damage buildings, rooftops, power lines, and vehicles, while also causing low visibility and road accidents, the NDMA warned.

فلیش فلڈ انتباہ:

نیشنل ایمرجنسیز آپریشن سینٹر کے مطابق بحیرہ عرب و خلیج بنگال سے بارش کا سلسلہ اور مغربی ہوائیں گلگت بلتستان و کشمیر کے علاقوں میں شام/رات کو شدید بارش، آندھی و گرج چمک لائیں گی۔ جسکی ندی نالوں میں طغیانی کا خطرہ ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/pRHdA4aFbQ

— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) June 21, 2025

The authority has urged residents to avoid standing near trees, billboards, or loose structures during high winds, and advised motorists to limit travel and park in secure areas.

"Heavy rainfall heightens the risk of flooding in rivers and streams across the affected areas," the advisory added. "Mountain roads remain particularly vulnerable, with possible traffic disruptions due to landslides."

Hot and humid weather is expected to persist in other parts of the country.

Morning temperatures recorded in major cities included: Islamabad and Karachi at 30°C, Lahore and Peshawar at 31°C, Quetta at 26°C, Gilgit at 20°C, Murree at 19°C, and Muzaffarabad at 24°C.

The NDMA has also recommended the public stay updated using the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App, as communication networks and power systems may face temporary outages.