The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has announced arrival of monsoon rains in the country starting from Monday, July 3.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Met Department predicted that moist currents from the Arabian Sea were expected to penetrate the upper regions of Pakistan.
Additionally, a westerly wave is predicted to enter the upper parts of the country by the evening/night of July 3.
As a result of these weather systems, the PMD anticipates rain, wind, and thunderstorms, with heavy falls and hailstorms in some areas. The affected regions include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, and Toba Tek Singh. These conditions are expected to persist from July 3 to July 8, with occasional breaks in between.
The PMD advisory also mentions that Barkhan, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Lasbela, Awaran, Musakhel, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, and Okara may experience rain, wind, and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls from July 5 to July 8.
In Sindh, the forecast predicts rain, wind, and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Mithi, Chhor, Padidan, Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Dadu, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, and Karachi on July 7 and 8.
The Met Office has issued warnings of possible urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore due to heavy rain. There is also a risk of landslides in vulnerable areas such as Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and hilly regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between July 4 and July 7.
Furthermore, the PMD cautioned that heavy rainfall might cause flash floods in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and adjacent areas of northeast Balochistan from July 6 to July 8.
Farmers have been advised to plan their activities considering the weather forecast, while tourists are urged to exercise caution during the wet spells.
The department also highlighted the potential damage to loose structures like electric poles and solar panels during dust storms, wind-thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall. It advised the general public to remain in safe locations during this period.
The PMD has called on all relevant authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary precautionary measures in response to the weather conditions.
