The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday forecast a fresh monsoon spell to begin nationwide from the first week of July.
In an advisory, the Met Office said a westerly wave was likely to enter the upper parts of the country from June 30, adding “moist currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the eastern and central parts of the country.” It said moist currents from the Bay of Bengal were also expected to reach the upper parts from July 2.
Under the influence of this system, the PMD has forecast scattered rain, and windstorm/thundershower accompanied by isolated heavy falls, in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from July 1-6.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Met Office said scattered rain, windstorm/thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) are expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu, Waziristan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan from July 1-5, with occasional gaps.
The advisory also predicts rainfall from July 1-6 in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, and Narowal.
Additionally, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Okara, Kasur, Noor Pur Thal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur are expected to experience rain from July 3-5, with occasional gaps.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, rain and thunderstorms were expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar from July 1-5, with occasional gaps.
For Balochistan, the PMD has forecast rainfall in the province’s northern and northeastern parts, including Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai, Sibbi, Barkhan, and Dera Bugti, from July 1-4.
In Sindh, rain is predicted for Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, and Naushahro Feroze on July 3 and July 4.
The advisory warns that the weather conditions might damage infrastructure, such as solar panels, electric poles and billboards. It has also warned of potential landslides in vulnerable areas of upper KP, GB, and Kashmir from July 1-6, as well as flash floods in local streams and nullahs of Kashmir, KP, GB and hill torrents of DG Khan from July 2-5. The rainfall may also result in urban/flash flooding in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad from July 1-4, it added.
The PMD has advised tourists to remain cautious and avoid travel during the forecast period. It has further advised farmers to manage their crop activity accordingly, adding prevailing hot and humid conditions would likely subside during this period.