The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday forecast an extended spell of rain, wind and thundershowers over the country’s upper and central parts for Aug. 17-21, with occasional breaks.
In a press release, the Met Office said monsoon current “were currently penetrating the northern regions of the country and were likely to persist over the coming days.” Additionally, it said, a westerly wave was expected to enter the upper parts of Pakistan from Aug. 17, and the combination of the two weather systems were expected to bring widespread precipitation to most of the country.
Regionally, the PMD forecast Kashmir to receive scattered rain accompanied by wind and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls, across Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from the evening of Aug. 16 through Aug. 21, with intermittent gaps.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, significant rainfall, with rain-wind and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls, is forecast for Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar and Mardan from Aug. 17-21.
The Met Office said KP’s southern districts, including Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Waziristan are expected to receive rain on Aug. 20-21.
The forecast calls for Islamabad and upper parts of Punjab to experience rain, wind and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls from the evening of Aug. 16 through Aug. 21. This includes the federal capital, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Attock, Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali and Noorpur Thal.
According to the PMD, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Layyah, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and DG Khan will see rainfall on Aug. 20-21.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the Met Office has forecast rain, wind and thundershower activity for Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from Aug. 18-21, with occasional gaps.
For Sindh and Balochistan, per PMD, the weather is expected to remain mainly hot and humid across most areas. However, Musakhel, Barkhan, Zhob, Kalat and Khuzdar districts are likely to experience rain, wind and thundershowers from the evening of Aug. 17 through Aug. 20.
The PMD’s advisory warns that heavy rainfall during the forecast period may trigger urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore between Aug. 17 and Aug. 20. It has also warned of a risk of landslides in hilly and mountainous terrain of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir.
It has advised tourists and travelers heading to these areas to exercise caution. Additionally, farmers have been urged to plan their crop-related activities in light of the forecast and to take appropriate care of their livestock during this time.