Flood warning: Met department predicts heavy rains this week

Met department says low pressure area currently over India will enter Pakistan sometime this week, cause flash floods.

ISLAMABAD: The Meteorological Office warned that seasonal monsoon is very likely to enter in its active phase on Monday, producing widespread rains with scattered heavy falls in the country during the week.

Heavy rains are expected in Islamabad, parts of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Balochistan and Kashmir from Monday to Wednesday that may result in flash flooding in vulnerable areas.

The Met Department Director Azmat Hayat said that a low pressure area has developed over central parts of India (North Madhya Pradesh) which is likely to move northwest in the next 24 hrs, and then it may persist over North India (adjoining areas of northwest Madhya Pradesh, East Rajasthan & southwest Uttar Pradesh) during next three -four days.

Under the influence of this low pressure area, a strong to very strong monsoon current will penetrate north east parts of Pakistan (upper Punjab and Kashmir) sometime during the week.

Due to the interaction of monsoon currents and cold air over northern parts of the country, widespread heavy to very heavy rains are expected over Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Lahore Divisions), Upper K-P (Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar and Kohat Divisions) and Kashmir between Monday and Wednesday.

Scattered heavy rains are also expected in central parts of the country including D.G.Khan, DI Khan, Zhob, Sibbi and Naseerabad Divisions during the period.

The department warned all concerned authorities to remain alert during the week.