ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain in southern and central parts of the country due to an active monsoon system.
On Friday, it issued a weather advisory for the next three to four days, forecasting monsoon currents over the southern and central parts of the country.
A press release by the Met Office said a low-pressure area was present over south-west Rajasthan and adjoining areas, causing monsoon currents over the southern and central parts of the country.
Under the influence of these currents, the PMD said, rain and thundershowers were expected across the country, including Sindh, southern and central Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and northeastern areas of Balochistan, between July 24 and 28.
Sindh monsoon forecast
In Sindh, it forecast “rain-thundershowers with a few heavy falls” in the districts of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Nosheroferoz and Thatta between the evening of July 24 (Friday) and July 27 (Monday), with occasional gaps.
“Cloudy (weather) with light rain is also expected in Karachi during the forecast period,” the PMD added.
In Balochistan, for the same period, it said there would be “mostly partly cloudy and at times cloudy” weather conditions, with rain and thundershowers expected in the northern and northeastern areas of Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Awaran and Khuzdar. Isolated heavy falls are also expected.
Meanwhile, in Punjab, it forecast “rain-windstorms” and thundershowers — also with isolated heavy falls — in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Khanewal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur from Friday evening to Monday.
The department also predicted mostly partly cloudy and at times cloudy weather conditions, with rain and thundershowers, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Sialkot, Narowal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib and Chiniot, from the evening of July 24 to 26, “with occasional gaps”.
In KP, it forecast the same weather conditions in the regions of Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu, beginning this evening and lasting until July 27.
The PMD also forecast these weather conditions in GB’s Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from July 24 to 26, with gaps.
Meanwhile, the PMD said, isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers were expected in Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from July 24 to 28.
The statement noted that heavy rains may cause urban flooding in Gujranwala and Lahore on Saturday, as well as in Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad until July 26 (Sunday).
At least 37 people have already died in rain-related incidents in KP, GB, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab as the ongoing monsoon spell triggered flash floods and landslides.
Lahore has so far received the heaviest rainfall of this year — receiving 263mm of rain at the airport and surrounding areas on Thursday — which flooded roads and brought life to a halt.
