The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday issued a weather advisory, warning of widespread rain, thunderstorms and strong winds across much of the country from April 1-4.
According to the advisory, a westerly wave is expected to move into southwestern Balochistan on April 1, before gradually extending its influence across nearly all provinces until April 4.
“Balochistan will be the first to bear the brunt of the system, with rain, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms anticipated from the evening of April 1 across a sweeping stretch of districts from coastal areas including Gwadar, Pasni, and Ormara inland through Quetta, Ziarat, Loralai, Zhob, Khuzdar, and dozens of other regions, continuing through April 4 with occasional breaks,” it read.
Conditions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it continued, would deteriorate from the night of April 1, with rain and thunderstorms affecting the entire province from Chitral, Dir, and Swat in the north to Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan in the south.
According to the PMD, snow is expected at higher elevations, while isolated areas face the added threat of hailstorms and heavy downpours.
The Met Office warned Punjab and Islamabad would also experience the weather system from the night of April 1, with thunderstorms and hailstorms forecast across the region, from Murree and Rawalpindi down through Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. Dera Ghazi Khan and the surrounding areas face a heightened risk of particularly heavy rainfall.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir are forecast to witness rain, snow over the mountains, and hailstorms from the night of April 1, covering districts such as Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and Mirpur.
Sindh, per the advisory, would be the last province affected, with Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, and several other cities facing rain, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms from April 2 through April 4.
The advisory emphasized that flash floods are expected in northeast Balochistan and in local streams and waterways across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from April 2-4, while hill torrents are expected in Dera Ghazi Khan. “Windstorms and lightning may damage weak structures, electricity infrastructure, billboards, and solar panels, while standing crops in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh are at risk from hail and strong winds,” it added.
The Met Office has advised the public, tourists, and travelers to exercise caution and avoid non-essential excursions throughout the forecast window. It said the weather system may persist beyond April 4, and an updated advisory would be issued if necessary.