ISLAMABAD, Jul 31 (APP): The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain-wind/thundershowers for Friday in various parts of the country, accompanied by a flash flood warning in vulnerable districts due to expected heavy downpours.
Rain is likely in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), northeastern Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, while hot and humid weather will prevail in other parts of the country, particularly Sindh and southern Balochistan.
The PMD has warned that heavy rainfall overnight and today may generate flash flooding in local nullahs and streams in parts of KP including Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, and Tank, as well as DG Khan, South Punjab, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir.
Citizens are advised to take precautionary measures as windstorms, lightning and heavy downpours may damage vulnerable structures such as kacha houses, electric poles, billboards, solar panels, and parked vehicles.
In Islamabad, partly cloudy skies are expected with a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rainfall is expected in Chitral, Swat, Buner, Shangla, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Peshawar, and southern districts including Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Waziristan, and Tank.
Upper and central Punjab including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Jhang are expected to receive rain-wind/thundershowers. Southern Punjab districts such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Lodhran, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Vehari and Sahiwal may witness rain with isolated heavy falls.
Sindh will remain hot and humid, though isolated rain is possible in Tharparkar, Umerkot, and some coastal areas during evening or night. In Balochistan, isolated rain-thundershowers are likely in Barkhan, Musakhel, Zhob, Khuzdar, Lasbela, and Awaran, while the rest of the province will remain hot and humid. Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are likely to experience cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms, with heavy falls expected in some areas of Kashmir.
Significant rain during the past 24 hours was recorded in Bannu 38mm, Malam Jabba 16mm, Kalam 12mm, D.I. Khan 10mm (City), Airport 8mm, Kakul 9mm, Parachinar 5mm, Dir 4mm, Layyah 35mm, Bahawalnagar 29mm, Bahawalpur (Airport 19mm, City 4mm), Toba Tek Singh 14mm, Bhakkar 9mm, Sahiwal 5mm, Barkhan 10mm, Khuzdar 1mm, Muzaffarabad (Airport 5mm, City 3mm), and Gupis 2mm in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Despite widespread rainfall, high temperatures were recorded in several areas. Nokkundi topped at 45 C, followed by Dalbandin at 44 C, Panjgur at 43 C, and Sibi at 42 C.
The authorities have urged citizens, particularly in flood-prone areas, to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rains.
The emergency services and local administrations have been put on alert to deal with any untoward situation.