ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted a rainy week for the upper and central parts of the country.
The forecast comes as weak monsoon currents continue to move into these regions and are expected to gain strength from Monday. A westerly wave is also likely to grow stronger starting Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre, rain accompanied by wind and thunder is likely to hit Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad through Thursday.
“More rains with wind-thundershower predicted in the upcoming week,” the department noted. “Weak monsoon currents are continuously penetrating in upper/central parts of the country and is likely to intensify from 4th August. A westerly wave is likely to strengthen on 5th August.”
Because of these weather conditions, rain with wind and thunder, along with isolated heavy showers, is expected in several parts of AJK, such as Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, similar weather is expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar between August 5 and 7.
Several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan are also likely to receive rain with thunderstorms and occasional heavy showers from August 4 to 7.
In Punjab and Islamabad, areas including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, and Kasur may also receive rain with heavy falls in some places during the same period.
Other areas like DG Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, and Bahawalpur are expected to experience rainfall on Wednesday, August 6.
For most of Balochistan, the weather will remain hot and humid, though areas like Barkhan, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, and Khuzdar may receive showers on Wednesday.
The weather office has also warned that heavy rainfall could cause flash floods in hilly streams and local nullahs in areas including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab, and AJK.
Urban flooding may also affect low-lying areas in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Sialkot.
Additionally, the department cautioned that the current weather conditions could increase the chances of glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods, and landslides in the vulnerable glaciated areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.