Pakistan Weather: PMD Warns of Heavy Rain, Flash Floods and Landslides in Northern Regions

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, while hot and dry conditions are expected to continue across most other parts of the country.

The PMD warned that heavy overnight rainfall could trigger landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas, including upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir. It also cautioned that local streams and nullahs may experience flash flooding.

The department said hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and rain-fed waterways in northeastern Balochistan could also overflow due to heavy rainfall.

Urban flooding is possible in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad. The PMD also warned that strong winds and lightning could damage vulnerable infrastructure, including electricity poles, billboards and solar panels.

In Islamabad, hot weather is expected during the day, followed by rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms during the morning and night.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to receive rainfall in several districts, including Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Chitral, Battagram, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Peshawar, Hangu, Kurram and Waziristan, while other areas are expected to remain hot and dry.

Punjab is forecast to receive widespread rainfall, particularly in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Khushab, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot and Narowal. Isolated showers are also expected in Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali and Dera Ghazi Khan later in the day.

Sindh will remain very hot and humid, although partly cloudy conditions are expected along the coastal belt. Isolated rain and windstorms are forecast in Shahdadkot, Dadu, Sukkur and Jacobabad during the evening and night.

Most parts of Balochistan will continue to experience hot and dry weather. However, rain and thunderstorms are likely in Zhob, Sherani, Naseerabad, Sibi, Musakhel, Barkhan and Khuzdar.

In Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, partly cloudy conditions with rain and thunderstorms are expected, with isolated heavy rainfall possible in parts of Kashmir.

During the past 24 hours, rain and thunderstorms affected parts of Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hot and humid weather persisted elsewhere.

Murree recorded the highest rainfall at 72 millimetres, followed by Islamabad Airport with 48mm, Golra with 39mm and Lahore’s Nishtar Town with 38mm.

Dalbandin recorded the country’s highest temperature on Thursday at 46°C, followed by Nokkundi at 45°C, while Sibbi and Dadu each recorded 44°C.