Heavy rain, thunderstorms forecast across country from July 24-28

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday issued a weather advisory for the next three to four days, forecasting rain in southern and central parts of the country due to an active monsoon system.

A press release issued by the Met Office said a low-pressure area was present over south-west Rajasthan and adjoining areas, causing monsoon currents over the southern and central parts of the country.

Under the influence of these currents, it said, rain and thundershowers were expected across the country, including Sindh, southern and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and northeastern areas of Balochistan, between July 24 and 27.

In Sindh, it forecast “rain-thundershowers with a few heavy falls” in the districts of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Nosheroferoz and Thatta between the evening of July 24 (Friday) and July 27 (Monday), with occasional gaps.

Cloudy weather with light rain is also expected in Karachi during the forecast period, the PMD statement added. 

In Balochistan, for the same period, it said there would be “mostly partly cloudy and at times cloudy” weather conditions, with rain and thundershowers expected in the northern and northeastern areas of Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Awaran and Khuzdar. Isolated heavy falls are also expected.

Meanwhile, in Punjab, it forecast “rain-windstorms” and thundershowers — also with isolated heavy falls — in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Khanewal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur from Friday evening to Monday.

The PMD also predicted mostly partly cloudy and at times cloudy weather conditions, with rain and thundershowers, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Sialkot, Narowal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib and Chiniot, from the evening of July 24 to 26, with occasional gaps. 

In KP, the same weather conditions will persist 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 and Hangu until July 27.

The Met office forecast these weather conditions in GB’s Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from July 24 to 26, with gaps.

Meanwhile, isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers were expected in Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from July 24 to 28. 

The heavy rains may cause urban flooding in Gujranwala and Lahore on Saturday, as well as in Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad from July 24 to 26 (Friday to Sunday). 

The Met Office also urged concerned authorities to remain vigilant during the forecast period.