The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread monsoon rainfall across most parts of the country from July 18 to 25, warning of heavy to very heavy downpours that could trigger flash floods, landslides and urban flooding in vulnerable areas.
According to the PMD, strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and are expected to intensify over the weekend. A western weather system is also likely to approach the upper regions on Monday, further enhancing rainfall activity.
The Met Office said Kashmir is expected to receive widespread rain, windstorms and thundershowers with heavy to very heavy rainfall from the evening of July 18 to 25.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, widespread rain accompanied by windstorms and thunderstorms is forecast from July 19 to 23, with heavy falls expected in upper, central and southern districts, including Peshawar, Swat, Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan.
Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and the Galliyat, along with several districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Jhelum and Sargodha, are also likely to receive widespread rain and thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy falls between July 19 and 23.
Southern Punjab districts, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh, are expected to receive rain from July 20 to 24.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast in Diamir, Astore, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Ghizer and surrounding areas from the evening of July 18 to 25.
Parts of Balochistan, including Zhob, Loralai, Sibi, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar, are expected to receive rain and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls from July 19 to 23.
Most parts of Sindh are likely to remain hot and very humid. However, isolated rain and thundershowers are expected in Tharparkar, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Dadu and Jacobabad from July 20 to 24.
The PMD warned that heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods in local streams and nullahs across Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, northeastern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan.
The department also cautioned that landslides are likely in vulnerable mountainous areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir between July 20 and 25.
It further warned of possible urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan during the same period and advised the public and relevant authorities to take precautionary measures.
