ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2026 — Heavy rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds continued to lash Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Friday, as a powerful weather system moved across northern and north-eastern parts of Pakistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said.
The rainfall began late Thursday evening around 9:00 p.m. and continued intermittently through the night, with more showers expected during the day. The PMD has forecast further rain, windstorms and thunderstorms at scattered locations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper and central Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of north-eastern Balochistan.
Authorities warned that moderate to heavy rainfall could occur in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, raising the risk of landslides in mountainous areas and increased water flow in local streams and nullahs through April 18.
In Punjab, districts including Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Lahore and Faisalabad remain under alert, while lighter rain and possible hailstorms are expected in southern areas such as Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan.
The PMD cautioned that strong winds, hailstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable infrastructure, including electricity poles, billboards and solar panels, and may also affect standing and ready-to-harvest crops in parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Islamabad recorded a high of 36 degrees Celsius and a low of 14 degrees Celsius over the past 24 hours, highlighting sharp weather contrasts following the overnight storm.
Meanwhile, southern parts of the country continued to experience intense heat, with Bahawalnagar and Shaheed Benazirabad recording highs of 44 degrees Celsius.
Authorities have urged residents to take precautionary measures and stay updated through official weather advisories as the system persists.