PMD forecasts first monsoon showers tomorrow

ISLAMABAD:

The monsoon season this year is set to begin on Wednesday (tomorrow) bringing rain to various regions of the country, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast on Monday, warning of potential flash floods, urban inundation, landslides, and other rain-related hazards.

The weather department said that a strong westerly wave was expected to approach the northern regions on June 25 (tomorrow) and might gain significance by June 26, resulting in heavy rainfall activity across most provinces and territories.

At present, according to the PMD, moist currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal had already begun to penetrate the upper and central parts of Pakistan and were likely to intensify over the next couple of days.

As a result, the PMD said, rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms with scattered heavy, and at times very heavy, falls was expected from the evening or night of June 24 until July 2 with occasional gaps in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Punjab.

The first monsoon showers in AJK were expected in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur. Similarly, G-B districts such as Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar might receive rain from June 26-29.

in northern Punjab, moderate to heavy rainfall with wind and thunderstorms would be expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Lahore, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Khushab, Sargodha, and Mianwali from June 25 to July 1 with intermittent gaps.

In South Punjab, the PMD stated, areas including Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Layyah were expected to receive rain between June 26 and June 28.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), widespread rain with wind and thunderstorm is expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Mohmand, Khyber, Waziristan, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu, and Kurram from June 25 to July 1 with occasional gaps.

Balochistan will also receive rainfall during this spell, particularly in its north-eastern and southern districts including Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Kalat, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Awaran, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti, and Kohlu from the night of June 25 till June 28.

In Sindh, rainfall with wind and thunderstorms was expected in upper and south-eastern districts including Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi from June 25 to June 28 with brief gaps.

"The heavy to very heavy rains may trigger flash floods in local streams and nullahs particularly in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast Punjab, and Kashmir between June 26 and July 1," the PMD said.

"The downpours may also cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar during the same period, while similar conditions could affect Hyderabad and Karachi between June 26 and June 28," it added.

The PMD warned that heavy rainfall combined with windstorms and lightning could disrupt daily life and cause damage to weak structures such as Kacha houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels.

It added that the continuous wet spell could pose the risk of landslides that might result in road closures in vulnerable hilly areas of K-P, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and G-B. The department advised the farmers to manage their agricultural activities considering the rain forecast.

"Tourists and travellers are urged to plan their journeys carefully to avoid any untoward incidents during the period of intense weather activity. Authorities concerned have been directed to remain on high alert and take necessary measures to safeguard life and property," the PMD said.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)