The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast the start of this year’s monsoon season from June 25 (today), predicting the first rains to continue until July 1 in most parts of the country, with occasional gaps.
The Met Office has said moist currents are penetrating upper and central parts of the country, with a westerly wave expected to approach upper parts on June 25 and likely to become significant on June 26. Under the influence of these meteorological conditions:
Kashmir/Gilgit-Baltistan
Rain wind/thunderstorm with scattered heavyfalls (at times very heavy) is expected in Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) from the evening of June 24 through July 2 with occasional gaps. Rain wind/thunderstorm is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar) from June 26-June 29 with occasional gaps.
Punjab/Islamabad
Rain wind/thundershower with scattered heavyfalls (at times very heavy) is expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar and Mianwali from June 25 to July 1, with occasional gaps. Rain wind/thundershower is expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, D.G. Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahimyar Khan and Layyah from June 26-June 28.
Overall, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has predicted Punjab to receive 25% more monsoon rains this year.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Rain wind/thundershower with scattered heavyfalls (at times very heavy) is expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Waziristan, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu and Kurram from June 25-July 1, occasional gaps.
Balochistan
Rain wind/thundershower is expected in northeastern/southern parts (Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Kalat, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Awaran, Kalat, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti and Kohlu) from the night of June 25 through June 28.
Sindh
Rain wind/thundershower is expected in upper and southeast Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Badin and Karachi) from June 25-28, with occasional gaps.
Isolated rain and thunderstorm are also forecast for Karachi on Friday evening.
The Met Office has warned the heavy to very heavy rains in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, D.G Khan, northeast Punjab, and Kashmir from June 26-July 1 may generate flash flood in local nullahs/streams. Additionally, it has warned of urban flooding in low lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera and Peshawar from June 26-July 1, and in Hyderabad and Karachi from June 26-28.
It has also warned of landslides potentially causing roads’ closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the wet spell and urged residents to exercise caution.