New western disturbance to lash Pakistan this week; to bring rain, thunderstorms, hailstorms

ISLAMABAD, Apr 04 (APP):Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast another spell of stormy weather set to sweep across the country from April 05-09, brought on by a fresh western disturbance approaching from the west.

Balochistan will be the first to feel the impact, with rain, windstorm, and thunderstorm along with isolated heavy falls and hailstorm expected in Chaghi, Dalbandin, Kharan, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Mastung, Sibbi, Kohlu, Naseerabad, and Loralai from the night of April 05 to the morning of April 07 with occasional gaps, while Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, and the Makran Coast including Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, and Lasbella will be affected on April 06.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will experience widespread rain, windstorm, and thunderstorm with snowfall over mountains in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan from April 06 to 09 with occasional gaps, with heavy falls and hailstorm likely at scattered places on April 07 and 08.

Punjab and Islamabad will see widespread rain, windstorm, and thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls and hailstorm in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Noorpurthal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur, and Sahiwal from the evening of April 06 to April 09. Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, and Khanewal are expected to receive rain and thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm on April 06 and 07.

Heavy falls and hailstorm are also likely in Islamabad, the Pothohar region, and upper districts on April 07 and 08.

Sindh will see scattered rain, windstorm, and thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls and hailstorm in Sukkur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Jamshoro, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Kambar Shahdadkot, while light to moderate rain and thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm is expected in Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Mityari, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, and Karachi on April 06.

Gilgit-Baltistan will receive moderate rain, windstorm, and thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls and snowfall over mountains in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, and Shigar from the night of April 05 to April 09 with occasional gaps.

Kashmir including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur will see widespread rain, windstorm, and thunderstorm with few heavy falls and hailstorm from April 06 to 09 with occasional gaps.

The Met Office has warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir. Flash flooding is expected in Kashmir and northeast Balochistan including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Kohlu, Zhob, Barkhan, Loralai, and Sherani, as well as the Kohe Sulaiman mountains on April 6, and in local streams and nullahs of Kurram, Orakzai, Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Kohistan, Chitral, Buner, and Abbottabad from April 07 to 08.

Urban flooding is also expected in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Sialkot on April 07 and 08.

Windstorm, hailstorm, and lightning may damage weak structures including electric poles, billboards, and solar panels. Standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh are also at risk from hailstorm and windstorm, and farmers have been advised to manage their crops accordingly.

Tourists and travellers are urged to avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period. Daytime temperatures are expected to drop.

All concerned authorities have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to prevent any untoward situation.