Coming down hard: Second spell of monsoon expected amid warnings

Upcountry faces possibility of flash floods in rivers, streams.

ISLAMABAD: A second spell of monsoon rain is expected to lash the upper parts of Punjab, Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Hazara division late Thursday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The Met office also warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall from Saturday to Tuesday could generate flash floods in rivers, streams and neighbourhoods in the areas of upper Punjab, K-P, Hazara division and Kashmir.



The authorities concerned have been asked to take precautionary measures to avoid any human casualty or loss of property. Due to frequent rains in Kashmir, the risk of landslides, particularly along the major roads, will be high during the period.

Extreme hot and humid weather continued on Thursday across the country with the humidity level crossing 60 per cent. The highest temperatures were recorded in Rahimyar Khan where the mercury level touched 43 degrees Celsius.

The Met office predicted widespread rain-thundershowers in Kashmir, Islamabad, upper Punjab, Malakand, Mardan, Hazara, Kohat and Peshawar divisions from Friday to Tuesday. Scattered heavy to very heavy rain is also expected in Kashmir, Islamabad/ Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Peshawar, Kohat and Hazara divisions during Friday to Sunday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Mohammad Farooq, a meteorologist at PMD, said the high humidity level, coupled with high temperature, has turned the weather unpleasant. He said increase in the level of humidity in the atmosphere makes it difficult for people to breathe.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2015.