ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Districts across Pakistan are expected to witness a spell of heavy rains, beginning from Sunday night (April 6) in Balochistan and lasting till April 9 in the upper parts of the country, according to the weather advisory.
In its advisory issued on Saturday, Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) predicted that “another western disturbance is likely to approach western parts of Balochistan” on Sunday evening and was likely to persist in the upper regions of the country till April 9.
Under the influence of the weather system, showers with isolated heavy falls or hailstorms are expected in various areas of all provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
In Balochistan, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls/hailstorm is expected in Quetta, Chaman, Chagai, Dalbandin, Kharan, Ziarat, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Mastung, Sibi, Kohlu, Nasirabad and Loralai from Sunday night to the morning of April 7 (Tuesday) with occasional gaps.
The same was forecast for Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Lasbela and Makran Coast (Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara) for April 6 (Monday).
Sindh, including Karachi, is likely to witness showers on Monday, according to the forecast.
“Scattered rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls/hailstorm” is expected in Sukkur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Jamshoro, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot.
Meanwhile, “light to moderate rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm” is forecast in Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Mitiari, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and Karachi.
Predicting the weather in Punjab, PMD said “widespread rain- windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls/hailstorm” is expected in Lahore, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Jhang, Noorpur Thal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur, Sahiwal from April 6 (Monday) evening to April 9 (Thursday) with occasional gaps.
The PMD forecast “rain- windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm” in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan and Khanewal on April 6 and 7.
“Heavy falls/hailstorm is also likely in Islamabad, Pothohar region and upper districts on April 7 and 8,” the Met Office added.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Met Office said “widespread rain-windstorm/thunderstorm (snowfall over mountains)” is likely in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan from April 6 to 9 with occasional gaps. “Heavy falls/Hailstorm is also likely at scattered places on April 7 and 8,” the department said.
Meanwhile, for GB, PMD forecast “moderate rain-wind/thunderstorm (with isolated heavy falls and snowfall over the mountains)” is expected in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche and Shigar from Sunday night to April 9 with occasional gaps.
For AJK, the Met Office predicted “widespread rain-windstorm /thunderstorm with few heavy falls/hailstorm in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian Bala, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from April 6 to 9 with occasional gaps.
The PMD’s forecast comes after the country witnessed a rain spell this week, with Sindh witnessing heavy showers termed “abnormal” for April and flash floods lashing Balochistan.
Since March 20, continuous rains and flooding have claimed nine lives and injured 10 others across Balochistan, while six people died in Karachi after torrential rain hit the port city on April 2.
Rain varying from light to heavy lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday, inundating low-lying areas. Similarly, heavy rain and a hailstorm over the last two days damaged wheat crops in parts of south Punjab.
Warning of harsh weather in north
In its weather advisory, the PMD warned that landslides may occur in areas of upper KP, GB and AJK between April 5 and April 9.
“Due to heavy rains, flash floods are expected in Kashmir, northeast Balochistan (Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Kohlu, Zhob, Barkhan, Loralai and Sherani) and Koh-i-Sulaiman mountains on April 6,” it said.
The Met Office has warned that “hailstorm/windstorm may damage standing crops” in Punjab, KP and Sindh, advising farmers to manage their crops accordingly.
Tourists and travellers have been urged to “remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period”.
