ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a comprehensive weather alert forecasting widespread intermittent rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms across large parts of Pakistan on Tuesday, with chances of heavy rainfall and hailstorms in isolated areas.
According to the latest advisory, regions including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory, and Kashmir are expected to experience widespread rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms. In contrast, partly cloudy weather with isolated rain-wind activity is forecast for northeastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
🌧️ Heavy Rainfall and Flood Warnings
The PMD has issued warnings of heavy rainfall that could trigger flash floods in local nullahs of northeastern Balochistan, lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan. Similar conditions are expected to persist through April 7 and 8 in hilly regions including Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, and Galiyat.
Authorities have also warned of possible landslides in mountainous areas due to continuous rainfall, posing risks to transportation and local communities.
🌆 Urban Flooding Risks
Urban flooding is likely in low-lying areas of major cities including Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Sialkot. The PMD has urged citizens to remain cautious, particularly in flood-prone zones.
⚡ Infrastructure and Agricultural Impact
The weather system may bring windstorms, hailstorms, and lightning, which could damage infrastructure such as electric poles, billboards, and solar panels. Standing crops in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also at risk of damage due to hail and strong winds, raising concerns for the agriculture sector.
🌦️ Regional Weather Outlook
In Islamabad and surrounding areas, cloudy skies with intermittent rain and thunderstorms are expected, with the possibility of heavy downpours and hailstorms.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to experience widespread rain and thunderstorms, along with snowfall in mountainous areas such as Chitral, Swat, Dir, and Kohistan. Punjab will also see widespread rain, including in major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Multan, with heavy falls expected in the Pothohar region.
Sindh, on the other hand, is expected to remain mostly dry, while Balochistan will experience partly cloudy to dry conditions with isolated showers in cities like Quetta, Zhob, and Ziarat. Kashmir will receive intermittent rain with heavy falls and hailstorms, whereas Gilgit-Baltistan will see partly cloudy weather with light rain in isolated areas.
🌡️ Recent Weather Observations
Over the past 24 hours, mainly dry conditions prevailed across the country, although isolated rain-wind thunderstorms were recorded in parts of north Balochistan, south Punjab, and Kashmir. The highest rainfall was recorded in Murree (14mm) and Kalat (12mm). The highest temperature was recorded at 36°C in Shaheed Benazirabad.
⚠️ Advisory Issued
The PMD has advised both authorities and the public to take precautionary measures to minimize risks. Citizens are urged to stay updated on weather alerts, avoid unnecessary travel in severe weather conditions, and take steps to protect property and crops from potential damage.