ISLAMABAD, May 8, 2025 – The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast thunderstorms in several districts of Punjab on Friday, May 9, as a weather system continues to affect upper and central parts of the country.
Citizens are advised to remain cautious due to the risk of heavy downpours, lightning, and hailstorms in isolated areas.
According to the PMD’s official weather advisory, Punjab will experience partly cloudy skies with rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms in numerous areas. Districts likely to be affected include Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Mianwali, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Khanewal, Taunsa, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Rajanpur. Hailstorms may also occur in some localities during this period.
For the evening and night of Thursday, May 8, similar thunderstorms are expected in the upper regions of Punjab, including parts of the Potohar Plateau. The PMD has issued a national alert stating that wind and dust thunderstorms, along with hailstorms and lightning, could damage vulnerable structures such as trees, electric poles, and solar panels from May 8 through May 12.
The current synoptic situation indicates that moist currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating into the upper and central parts of Pakistan, while a strong westerly wave is influencing much of the country.
For Friday, the weather across Punjab is expected to remain unstable, with a high chance of isolated thunderstorms and scattered rainfall. The PMD has warned of heavy falls and hailstorms at a few spots, which could lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas.
In the last 24 hours, various cities across Punjab witnessed significant rainfall. Murree recorded 42 mm, while Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Lahore also reported measurable precipitation. Other provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, also experienced similar weather activity.
The maximum temperatures recorded today reached 44°C in Jacobabad, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Mohenjodaro, reflecting hot and dry conditions in southern regions.
Residents across Punjab are urged to follow updates from the PMD and local authorities as unstable weather continues through the weekend.