Heavy rain forecast places parts of Pakistan at flood risk

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a countrywide alert, warning that heavy to very heavy monsoon rains may lead to flash floods, landslides and urban flooding in several districts in the coming days.

Flash flooding is expected in local nullahs and streams of Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, hill torrents of DG Khan, northeast Punjab, Kashmir, and several districts of Balochistan, including Barkhan, Kohlu, Musa Khel, Dera Bugti, Loralai, Bolan, Zhob, Ziarat, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran and Lasbela.

PMD said landslides and mudslides may cause road closures in vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir.

Urban flooding may occur in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera and Peshawar, warned the meteorological department. 

Strong monsoon currents, along with a westerly wave, are currently affecting most central and southern regions of the country.

Rain with wind and thunderstorms is forecast in Islamabad, K-P, Kashmir, Punjab, northeast and south Balochistan, and upper Sindh through today and Tuesday.

Isolated heavy downpours are likely in Kashmir, upper Punjab, the Potohar region, K-P and northern Balochistan.

Over the past 24 hours, rainfall was recorded in parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, northeast and south Balochistan and Sukkur.

Heavier showers were observed in Karor (37mm), Kot Addu (31mm), DG Khan (22mm), Muzaffarabad (21mm) and Lasbela (15mm). Gilgit-Baltistan remained very hot, with Nokkundi recording the highest temperature at 47°C.

In southern Sindh, weak monsoon currents continue to affect the region, with light rain and drizzle expected in Karachi and nearby districts.

PMD has forecast partly cloudy and humid conditions for Karachi today, with chances of drizzle in morning and night hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The metropolis' maximum temperature over the next three days is expected to range between 33°C and 35°C.

Light showers are also likely today in Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, and Tando Muhammad Khan, including areas within the Karachi Division.

Isolated rainfall is expected on Tuesday in Qambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, and Dadu.

Elsewhere in Sindh, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy, hot, and humid.