The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday forecast the first organised monsoon spell of the season from July 1 to 6, warning that widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms are expected across large parts of the country, with isolated heavy downpours likely to trigger urban flooding, flash floods in vulnerable hilly catchments and landslides.
Monsoon to sweep Pakistan from July 1, flood risk looms; NDMA
ISLAMABAD, Jun 29 (APP): The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday forecast the first organised monsoon spell of the season from July 1 to 6, warning that widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms are expected across large parts of the country, with isolated heavy downpours likely to trigger urban flooding, flash floods in vulnerable hilly catchments and landslides.
The forecast indicates that the strongest rainfall activity will occur over the northern and northeastern regions, with intermittent spells affecting Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan, northern and northeastern Balochistan, and upper Sindh.
In Punjab, rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Hafizabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Murree and Galliyat from July 1 to 6.
Rainfall is also likely to spread to Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Multan, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, Jhang, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur and Nankana Sahib from July 3 to 5.
Isolated heavy downpours are expected over northeastern Punjab and the Potohar region.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, scattered rain-wind/thundershowers are forecast across Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Upper and Lower Dir, Buner, Kohat, Malakand, Nowshera, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Mansehra, Charsadda, Mohmand, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Kurram, Bajaur, Khyber, Orakzai, Hangu and Waziristan from July 1 to 5, with isolated heavy rainfall expected in upper and mountainous districts.
Northern and northeastern districts of Balochistan, including Barkhan, Sherani, Zhob, Sibi, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai and Dera Bugti, are likely to receive scattered rain-wind/thundershowers from July 1 to 4.
Most rainfall is expected to remain light to moderate, although isolated heavy showers are also predicted.
In Sindh, scattered rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Larkana, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Khairpur and Naushahro Feroze on July 3 and 4.
Gilgit-Baltistan is expected to receive rain-wind/thunderstorms in Astore, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Diamer, Ghizer, Ghanche and Shigar from July 1 to 5.
Moderate rainfall, coupled with isolated heavy showers, may increase the risk of flash flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.
Across AJK, widespread rain-wind/thundershowers are forecast in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Mirpur, Rawalakot, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Kotli and Bhimber from July 1 to 6.
Moderate rainfall is expected at many places, while isolated heavy falls over higher elevations may trigger localized flash floods and landslides.
