Heavy monsoon rains lashed Lahore and parts of Punjab on Wednesday, bringing life to a standstill by causing urban flooding, massive traffic jams and frequent power outages.
The wet spell brought welcome relief from the humid weather by lowering daytime temperatures.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more widespread rain accompanied by strong winds on Wednesday evening and night, with wet weather expected to continue over the next two days.
According to the PMD, moisture-laden monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are penetrating the upper parts of Pakistan and are expected to intensify. A westerly weather system is also affecting the upper and central regions of the country.
Under the prevailing weather pattern, widespread monsoon rains and gusty winds are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Okara, Noorpur Thal, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Tunsa, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur. Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas.
Widespread rainfall could trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of Murree and Galyat. Flash flooding is also possible in local streams and nullahs of Murree, Galyat, northeastern Punjab and the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan.
Urban flooding may occur in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad. Windstorms, lightning and heavy rain could damage weak structures, including solar panels, electricity poles and roadside billboards.
Lahore’s daytime temperature is expected to range between 26°C and 28°C on Thursday and Friday.
During the past 24 hours, rain, wind and thunderstorms lashed Lahore and several districts of Punjab.
Rainfall (mm): Gujranwala 142, Mandi Bahuddin 138, Narowal 117, Sialkot (Airport 95, City 44), Hafizabad 85, Chakwal 70, Okara 64, Gujrat 49, Jhang 35, Layyah 33, Jhelum 32, Murree 29, Sahiwal 25, Bahawalnagar 23, Lahore (City 18, Airport 11), Mangla 17, D G Khan, Bhakkar 16, Attock 15, Faisalabad 11, T T Singh 04, Rawalpindi (New Kattarian 03, Pirwidahi 02, Gawalmandi, Shamsabad, Katcheri, Chaklala Airport 01), Islamabad(Zeropoint 03, Saidpur, Golra 02, Bokra, Airport 01), Noor Pur Thal 02
Lahore recorded a maximum temperature of 29°C, with morning humidity reaching 81 per cent.
