The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday issued a weather alert warning of a fresh spell of rain, wind and thundershowers for the upper and central regions of the country from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2.
According to the advisory, the new system may bring heavy downpours at times, raising the risk of urban flooding and landslides in northern areas. It said strong monsoon currents from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal would begin penetrating northern Pakistan from Aug. 29 while a simultaneous westerly wave is likely to approach from Aug. 30, paving the way for widespread showers across multiple provinces.
Kashmir is forecast to bear the brunt of the new monsoon spell, with heavy to very heavy rain forecast between Aug. 29 and Sept. 2, particularly in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, areas including Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar may also see rain, with isolated heavy falls expected from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, rain and thundershowers are forecast across Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan during the same spell.
According to the PMD, widespread rain with heavy downpours is expected in the capital, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Faisalabad, and nearby districts from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. Southern Punjab, including Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Layyah, and Rajanpur, may also be affected by isolated heavy falls.
In Sindh, showers with thunderstorms are expected in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Dadu, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Larkana on Aug. 30 and 31. Meanwhile, parts of Balochistan, particularly Barkhan, Loralai, Zhob, Khuzdar, and adjoining districts, could see rain with heavy falls from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
Due to the rains, the PMD has warned of flash floods in local nullahs and streams of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and northeast Punjab. Urban flooding may also occur in low-lying pockets of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, and Mardan, while landslides and mudslides may hit hilly terrain in KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir.
The PMD has urged the public, particularly travelers and tourists, to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary journeys in vulnerable areas, and stay updated with the latest forecasts. Local administrations and emergency departments have also been directed to remain on high alert and put precautionary measures in place to minimize potential losses.