Monsoon currents and a westerly wave are expected to bring heavy rain, with risks of urban flooding and flash floods in Islamabad and adjoining areas.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain accompanied by wind and thundershowers in Islamabad over the next two days, warning that isolated heavy rainfall could trigger urban flooding and flash floods in vulnerable areas.
According to the latest weather advisory, Monday will remain partly cloudy with rain, wind and thundershowers expected in Islamabad and adjoining areas. The PMD has warned that isolated heavy falls are likely during the day.
A similar weather pattern is expected on Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies, rain-wind/thundershowers and isolated heavy rainfall forecast across the federal capital and surrounding regions.
PMD issues heavy rain warning
The Met Office has cautioned that heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday (August 3–4) may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of:
• Islamabad
• Rawalpindi
• Potohar Region
• Sheikhupura
• Kasur
• Faisalabad
• Multan
• Sahiwal
• Okara
• Bahawalnagar
• Gujranwala
• Gujrat
• Sialkot
• Lahore
• Peshawar
• Nowshera
The PMD has also warned of possible landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas, including Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Shangla and Abbottabad), as well as Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir.
In addition, heavy downpours may trigger flash floods in local streams and nullahs across Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, the Potohar Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan.
Monsoon system remains active
According to the PMD, strong monsoon currents continue to penetrate the upper and central parts of Pakistan, while a westerly wave is also affecting the country’s upper regions.
The interaction of these weather systems is expected to sustain widespread rainfall activity over the next 24 hours.
National weather outlook
Monday
Rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab and northeastern Balochistan.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Punjab.
Tuesday
Rain-wind/thundershowers are forecast across Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected during the period, while dry and humid weather is likely to prevail across most southern parts of the country.
Rainfall during the past 24 hours
During the previous 24 hours, rain and thundershowers, including isolated heavy falls, were recorded in Sindh, Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Barkhan, while hot and humid weather persisted elsewhere.
The highest rainfall totals recorded were:
• Tando Jam: 107 mm
• Mirpurkhas: 89 mm
• Dahli: 67 mm
• Bahawalpur City: 64 mm
• Chhor: 63 mm
• Hyderabad Airport: 42 mm
Other notable rainfall included:
• Muzaffarabad: 27 mm
• Cherat: 25 mm
• Kakul: 18 mm
• Peshawar City: 18 mm
• Parachinar: 13 mm
• Rahim Yar Khan: 11 mm
• Murree: 9 mm
• Karachi (Korangi and Gulshan-e-Hadeed): 1 mm each
Meanwhile, the highest maximum temperatures recorded on Sunday were 44°C in Dalbandin and Nokkundi, while Sibbi and Chillas recorded 42°C.
The PMD has advised residents, commuters and local authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions due to the risk of heavy rainfall, urban flooding and flash floods during the ongoing monsoon spell.