ISLAMABAD, Jul 22 (APP): The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted widespread rain-wind/thundershowers for Wednesday in various parts of the country including Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northeast Balochistan.
The weather system is expected to bring heavy to very heavy downpours in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Potohar region, northeast Punjab and Kashmir. Meanwhile, southern regions of the country are likely to remain under hot and humid conditions.
According to the PMD, there is a high risk of flash flooding during the night and on July 23 in local nullahs and streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, and Islamabad/Rawalpindi, as well as in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast Punjab and Kashmir. Urban flooding may also occur in low-lying areas of major cities such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Okara, Nowshera and Peshawar.
Landslides and mudslides may cause road closures in hilly and vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and lightning may damage weak structures, including the roofs and walls of kacha houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels.
In Islamabad, partly cloudy weather with rain-wind/thundershowers is expected, with chances of heavyfalls during the period. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is forecasted to experience rain and thundershowers in various districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Buner, Shangla, Malakand, Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi, Bajaur, Mardan, Kurram, Khyber, Orakzai, Hangu, Kohat, Bannu, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan, with heavyfalls more likely in the upper regions.
In Punjab, rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in areas including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Chakwal, Attock, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura and Shakargarh. Isolated showers may also occur in Kasur, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Khanewal, Faisalabad, Layyah, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, Kot Addu, and Taunsa Sharif.
Sindh will continue to face hot and humid conditions across most districts, although light rain or drizzle is possible in some coastal areas. In Balochistan, similar hot and humid weather is expected in most parts, but isolated rain-wind/thundershowers may occur in Barkhan, Kohlu, Musakhel, Loralai, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella and nearby regions.
In Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, partly cloudy weather with rain-thundershowers is likely. Heavyfalls are also expected in some areas of Kashmir.
During the past 24 hours, rain-thundershowers with isolated heavyfalls were reported from Islamabad, Upper Punjab, Kashmir, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kalat, while hot and humid weather prevailed elsewhere.
The rainfall recorded includes 101 mm in Islamabad (Saidpur), 78 mm in Golra, 68 mm in Bokra, and 35 mm at Zero Point. In Rawalpindi, Katcheri recorded 85 mm, Gawalmandi 55 mm, and Chaklala 46 mm. Muzaffarabad received 79 mm at the airport and 71 mm in the city, while Kotli saw 64 mm.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balakot recorded 47 mm, Takht Bai 37 mm, Saidu Sharif 34 mm, and Kakul 28 mm. Kalat in Balochistan received 28 mm and Gilgit recorded 1 mm.
The highest maximum temperatures recorded today were 46 C in Nokkundi, 45 C in Dalbandin, and 44 C in Dadu.
The public is advised to remain cautious, particularly in vulnerable and low-lying areas, and follow instructions from local authorities to minimize risk during the forecast period.
