Rain, windstorms likely in upper parts during weekend: PMD

The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) National Weather Forecasting Centre on Friday forecast rain, windstorms and thundershowers in the north of the country over the weekend.

The department said that the westerly wave and moist currents from the Arabian Sea were expected to penetrate the upper parts of the country, gaining strength on Saturday evening.

PMD predicted rain, windstorm or thunderstorm in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar on July 11 (evening) to 13 with occasional gaps.

For Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the department forecast a similar weather outlook.

It predicted rain, windstorm, thundershower with isolated heavy falls in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu on July 11 and 12.

The Met Department also warned of rain, windstorms, as well as thundershowers with isolated heavy falls in several parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, namely, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Neelum Valley, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur from July 10 (night) to 13 with occasional gaps.

The department advised the local authorities to remain vigilant during the current weather forecast.

It said that windstorms and lightning could damage weak structures such as solar panels, electric poles and billboards.

“Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on July 11 and 12,” the warning read, adding that water flow may increase in the local streams and nullahs of the aforementioned regions during the forecast period.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned tourists and non-essential travellers to avoid the northern areas from July 10 to 14 in the wake of sudden glacial floods and landslides serving an immediate high-level threat.

Its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) said landslide alerts covered July 11–13 while flood and river surge warnings applied across G-B, K-P and AJK till July 14.

Authorities were directed to carry out rapid hazard assessments and relay real-time warnings to local administrations.

Officials warned that rising temperatures and ongoing heavy rain could trigger glacial lake outburst floods, hill torrents, debris flows, sudden river surges and rockfalls in vulnerable glacial valleys.

The NDMA outlined multiple high-risk zones, including Badswat, Ashkoman, Hinarchi, Yasin Valley, Khaplu, Hisper Glacier, Hopper Glacier and surrounding areas.

The authority also highlighted vulnerable roads, including Jaglot-Skardu, Hunza-Gojal, and Gilgit-Ghizer, in its warning. Furthermore, it added the Naltar Valley, the Bagrot Valley, and Hermosh to the list of high-risk routes.

The NEOC asked citizens to undertake immediate precautions such as staying away from glacial lakes, river channels and known flood paths and avoid travel on landslide-prone roads.

The advisory also directed travellers to follow instructions issued by the local authorities.

The authority warned that riverbank erosion and sudden debris flows could rapidly worsen conditions and instructed district administrations to mobilise emergency response teams and issue on-ground warnings.

For official updates and safety guidance, the public and visitors were instructed to use the Pakistan NDMA Disaster Alert application.