The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday warned of dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds in the upper and central parts of Pakistan from May 2 through May 5.
In its advisory, the Met Office has forecast a fresh westerly wave approaching the northwestern parts of the country on the evening of May 2 (Saturday) and persisting in upper regions until the morning of May 5 (Tuesday).
Widespread dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds are expected to batter upper and central Pakistan during the period, it said, adding the prevailing intense heatwave-like conditions are likely to ease during the forecast period.
According to the PMD, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is set to be the most severely affected province during this weather system. Dust-thunderstorms, isolated heavy falls, and hailstorms are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan from the evening of May 2 through May 4, with occasional gaps.
Punjab and Islamabad will also be significantly impacted. Dust-thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms are expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Narowal from the evening of May 2 through the night of May 4.
Rain-windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms may also strike Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan, and Khanewal on May 3 and 4.
The weather system is also expected to make its presence felt in the northern regions. Gilgit-Baltistan, including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, and Shigar, is likely to experience rain-wind and thunderstorm activity from the night of May 2 until May 5.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur, faces a similar outlook, with heavy falls and hailstorms anticipated over the same period.
In Balochistan, windstorms and thunderstorms are expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Kohlu, Zhob, Barkhan, and Loralai from May 2 to May 4. Upper Sindh is also likely to experience dust-thunderstorms on May 2 and 3.
The Met Office has highlighted several potential impacts of this weather system. It has warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, particularly on May 3 and May 4.