ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday issued a fresh weather advisory warning of landslides, flash floods, urban flooding and windstorm-related damage across several parts of the country as heavy monsoon rains are expected to continue through Thursday.
The PMD warned that landslides are likely in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday night through Thursday.
The department also cautioned that flash flooding may occur in rivers, hill torrents and seasonal streams across Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan during periods of heavy rainfall.
Urban flooding is feared in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan and Faisalabad due to intense downpours.
The PMD also warned that heavy rain, strong winds and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electricity poles and billboards.
According to the department, strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are penetrating the upper and central parts of the country, while a western weather system is also influencing these regions, increasing the likelihood of widespread rainfall.
During the next 24 hours, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to receive widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, with isolated heavy falls.
On Thursday, intermittent rain and thunderstorms are forecast over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeastern Balochistan, southeastern Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, with some areas likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Over the past 24 hours, widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorms and isolated heavy falls was recorded across Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan, while southern parts of the country remained hot and humid.
The highest rainfall was recorded in Gujranwala (190 mm), followed by Sialkot Airport (172 mm), Narowal (151 mm), Mandi Bahauddin (140 mm), Hafizabad (96 mm), Gujrat (95 mm), Sialkot City (95 mm), Lahore City (78 mm), Chakwal (70 mm), Jhang (66 mm), Okara (64 mm), Toba Tek Singh (61 mm) and Murree (40 mm).
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Malam Jabba received 67 mm, Cherat 55 mm, Kalam 36 mm, Lower Dir 24 mm, Balakot 21 mm and Dera Ismail Khan City 21 mm.
Rainfall was also recorded in Garhi Dupatta (44 mm), Kotli (25 mm) and Muzaffarabad Airport (24 mm) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while Zhob (32 mm) and Khuzdar (11 mm) received rainfall in Balochistan. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit recorded 20 mm, Chilas 15 mm and Astore 11 mm.
The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Wednesday were 45°C in Sibi and Dalbandin, followed by 44°C in Nok Kundi.
The PMD has advised the public, travelers and relevant authorities to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement in flood-prone and mountainous areas, and follow official weather advisories until the current spell of monsoon rains subsides.
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