Heavy rain may trigger urban and flash flooding as monsoon currents and a westerly wave affect northern Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, wind and thundershowers in Islamabad and adjoining areas on Thursday and Friday, with isolated heavy rainfall expected during the period.
According to the PMD, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with rain, wind and thundershowers is expected in Islamabad and surrounding areas during the evening and night on Thursday, August 20. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places.
Similar weather conditions are forecast for Friday, August 21, with rain, wind and thundershowers expected in Islamabad and adjoining areas.
PMD warns of urban flooding
The PMD has warned that heavy rainfall during the night of August 20 and on August 21 could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore.
Heavy rainfall may also trigger flash flooding in local nullahs in Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat and Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
The weather department further warned of possible landslides in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir.
Residents in vulnerable and low-lying areas have been advised to remain alert as intense rainfall could affect drainage systems and local waterways.
Monsoon currents affecting upper Pakistan
According to the PMD’s synoptic situation, monsoon currents are penetrating the upper parts of the country, while a westerly wave is also affecting the region.
On Thursday, rain, wind and thundershowers are expected in Islamabad, the Pothohar region, upper Punjab, Kashmir, upper and central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, with isolated heavy falls likely.
The same weather pattern is expected on Friday, with isolated heavy rainfall possible in the affected areas.
Hot and humid weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the country on both days.
Heavy rainfall recorded across several areas
During the previous 24 hours, widespread rain, wind and thundershowers were recorded in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, while scattered rainfall occurred in the Pothohar region, upper Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir.
Several areas received heavy rainfall.
In Punjab, Attock and Rawalpindi recorded 125mm each. Rawalpindi’s Katcheri area received 125mm, followed by Kattarian with 109mm, Gawalmandi 104mm, Chaklala 95mm, Shamsabad 93mm and Pirwadhai 86mm.
Jhelum received 118mm and Mangla 105mm, while Islamabad Airport recorded 68mm. Other rainfall totals in Islamabad included Bokra 57mm, Golra 55mm, Zero Point 36mm and Saidpur 19mm.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mardan recorded 59mm, followed by Takht Bai with 47mm and Malam Jabba with 23mm.
Muzaffarabad Airport received 24mm of rain in Kashmir, while Muzaffarabad city recorded 12mm and Garhi Dupatta 8mm.
Nokkundi records 46°C
Despite the widespread rainfall in northern parts of the country, temperatures remained high in several areas.
Nokkundi recorded the highest maximum temperature at 46°C on Wednesday. Dalbandin recorded 45°C, while Sibi, Dadu and Chilas recorded 43°C each.