Islamabad, May 2, 2025 — The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread thundershowers across Punjab on Saturday, May 3, 2025, warning of possible hailstorms and localized heavy rainfall in several areas.
According to the PMD’s advisory, moist currents are entering the upper and central parts of the country, while a westerly wave is influencing weather patterns in those regions. As a result, the PMD expects thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds in numerous districts of Punjab, including Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sahiwal, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Multan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Taunsa, Rajanpur, and D.G. Khan.
The PMD also noted that isolated hailstorms or heavy downpours may occur during this period, increasing the risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas. The impact of these thundershowers could include damage to infrastructure such as power lines, solar panels, trees, and weak structures. Residents in Punjab are advised to take precautionary measures, especially farmers, due to the potential disruption in agriculture.
For Friday night, the weather is expected to remain mainly dry across most of Punjab, although scattered rain and thundershowers may occur in Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, and nearby regions. At the national level, rain and thundershowers are also forecast for parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Over the past 24 hours, several cities in Punjab already experienced rain and windstorms. Narowal received 31 mm of rain, Hafizabad 20 mm, and Lahore up to 15 mm at the airport. Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Kasur also reported notable precipitation. Wind speeds reached alarming levels, with Lahore Airport recording gusts up to 139 km/h.
Saturday’s forecast indicates the continuation of unstable weather, with thundershowers expected to intensify across Northeast and Central Punjab. The PMD has urged citizens to remain updated with weather alerts and to stay indoors during severe conditions.