The monsoon season is set to begin on Wednesday, bringing widespread rain across the country, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Monday, warning of potential hazards like flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides.
According to the PMD, a strong westerly system is expected to reach northern areas by June 25 and strengthen further by June 26, causing heavy rainfall in many regions.
Moist air from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal has already started moving into upper and central Pakistan and is likely to intensify in the coming days.
As a result, rain along with wind and thunderstorms, including some very heavy downpours, is predicted from the night of June 24 through July 2 in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The first showers are expected in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Kotli, and nearby areas. Gilgit-Baltistan will likely receive rain from June 26 to 29.
Northern Punjab areas like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Lahore, and Sialkot will see moderate to heavy rainfall between June 25 and July 1.
In South Punjab, including Multan, Bahawalpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan, rain is expected between June 26 and 28.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will see widespread rain across districts like Swat, Dir, Kohat, and Peshawar from June 25 to July 1.
Northeastern and southern Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Awaran, and Dera Bugti, will receive rain from June 25 night to June 28.
Sindh will also experience showers from June 25 to 28 in cities such as Sukkur, Hyderabad, and Karachi.
“The heavy to very heavy rains may trigger flash floods in local streams and nullahs particularly in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast Punjab, and Kashmir between June 26 and July 1,” the PMD said.
“The downpours may also cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar during the same period, while similar conditions could affect Hyderabad and Karachi between June 26 and June 28,” it added.
The PMD cautioned that intense rainfall, strong winds, and lightning could disrupt daily routines and damage fragile structures, electric poles, and vehicles.
There’s also a risk of landslides in the hilly areas of KP, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and GB, possibly blocking roads.
Farmers have been asked to plan their work carefully based on this weather forecast, and travelers and tourists are advised to be extra cautious. Authorities have been instructed to stay alert and prepared to protect lives and property.