Heavy rains forecast in upper parts; urban flooding, landslides feared

ISLAMABAD, Aug 19 (APP): The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain-wind/thunderstorms in Islamabad, Pothohar region, upper Punjab, Kashmir, upper and central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday, with heavy falls expected at several places.

According to the weather forecast issued by the Met Office on Wednesday, hot and humid weather would prevail in other parts of the country.

The Met Office warned that heavy rains during tonight and August 20 could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore.

It said heavy rains could also trigger flash flooding in local nullahs of Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Landslides were also likely in the hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir during the forecast period.

In Islamabad and adjoining areas, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with rain-wind/thunderstorms is expected, with heavy falls also likely.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind/thunderstorms are expected in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Hangu, Orakzai, Karak, Kurram, Kohat and Waziristan. Heavy rainfall is likely in Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera and Peshawar, while hot and humid weather would prevail elsewhere in the province.

In Punjab, rain-wind/thunderstorms are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujrat, Jhelum, Mangla, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Okara. Heavy falls are likely in the Pothohar region, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore and Sheikhupura.

During evening/night, rain-wind/thunderstorms are also expected in Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khushab, Chiniot, Faisalabad and Dera Ghazi Khan. Hot and humid weather would prevail in other parts of the province.

In Sindh, hot and humid weather is expected in most districts, while southern parts would remain partly cloudy.

In Balochistan, hot and humid weather is expected in most districts, while rain/thunderstorms are likely in Barkhan, Zhob, Musakhel and Khuzdar during evening/night.

In Kashmir, partly cloudy weather with rain-wind/thunderstorms is expected, with heavy falls likely. Gilgit-Baltistan is also likely to experience partly cloudy weather with rain/thunderstorms.

During the past 24 hours, widespread rain-wind/thunderstorms occurred in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, while scattered rainfall was reported in the Pothohar region, northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir. Heavy falls were also recorded during the period, while hot and humid weather prevailed in other parts of the country.

The highest rainfall in Punjab was recorded at Rawalpindi Katcheri (147 mm), Shamsabad (127 mm), Pirwadhai (123 mm), Chaklala Airport and New Kattarian (121 mm each), and Gawalmandi (115 mm). Islamabad received 104 mm at Bokra, 100 mm at Golra, 99 mm at Zero Point, 95 mm at Saidpur and 2 mm at the Airport.

Jhelum received 65 mm, Lahore Airport 55 mm, Gujranwala 39 mm, Narowal 36 mm, Mandi Bahauddin 30 mm, Gujrat 23 mm, Attock 9 mm, Sialkot City 8 mm, Sialkot Airport 2 mm and Murree 8 mm. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Takht Bai received 22 mm, Parachinar 4 mm, Balakot 3 mm and Malam Jabba 1 mm.

The highest maximum temperatures recorded during the day were 46C at Nokkundi, 45C at Dalbandin and 43C each at Sibbi, Dadu and Chilas.

The minimum and maximum temperatures recorded in major cities were: Islamabad 22/29C, Lahore 26/34C, Karachi 27/32C, Peshawar 26/34C, Quetta 23/38C, Gilgit 21/38C, Muzaffarabad 25/34C, Skardu 17/35C, Murree 15/22C, Faisalabad 29/38C, Multan 29/38C, Srinagar 20/32C, Jammu 25/27C, Leh 13/27C, Pulwama 22/31C, Anantnag 20/30C, Shopian 21/31C and Baramulla 22/30C.