Rain, thunderstorms forecast for northern, central Pakistan; urban flooding feared

Pakistan is bracing for a period of unsettled weather, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms across most of the country, excluding Sindh, in the coming days. This outlook has raised concerns about potential urban flooding, particularly in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions.

The PMD attributes the expected weather patterns to moist currents from the Arabian Sea penetrating the upper parts of the country, complemented by similar currents from the Bay of Bengal entering the northeastern areas. A westerly wave is also anticipated to approach the northern regions by Monday night, further influencing the weather systems.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms are predicted from Monday night to Wednesday in various areas, including Kashmir's Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, and other districts. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regions like Dir, Chitral, Swat, and Peshawar are expected to see similar conditions, with some areas experiencing isolated heavy rainfall. The weather is forecast to begin slightly later in Waziristan, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Punjab and the Islamabad region will also experience scattered rain and windstorms, with isolated heavy downpours expected in cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. Specific districts in southern Punjab will see these conditions from Tuesday through Wednesday. Gilgit-Baltistan is forecast to have rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday. Balochistan's northern and northeastern parts may see isolated showers, while Sindh is expected to remain mostly hot and humid, though some districts could experience isolated rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The PMD issued a warning regarding the potential hazards associated with the severe weather. Windstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electricity poles, and billboards. Additionally, landslides are a risk in the vulnerable hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.