The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted rains and thunderstorms across Pakistan from Wednesday under the influence of a westerly weather system which is likely to spread to the central and southern parts of the country. In a statement, the department warned that the westerly wave would persist till the first week of May.
Under the new system, thunderstorms are expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Islamabad, Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Lahore from April 26 to April 29. The advisory said rain-dusts with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms are expected in Balochistan’s Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Noshki, Naseerabad, Sibi, Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbela, Awaran, Kharan and the Makran coast from April 27 (evening) to May 3.
Similarly, in South Punjab, rain and duststorms with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms are expected in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar and Sahiwal from April 27 to May 3. “Downpours are also expected in Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Mitiyari, Tandojam and Jamshoro from April 27 to May 3,” the Met office said.
It stated that more rain-wind/thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms are expected in Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Mansehra, Buner, and Kohistan from April 30 to May 5.
Heavy falls and hailstorms from April 30 to May 5 are also forecast in Islamabad, Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Mianwali, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib, the department added.
The Met Office warned that strong winds and hailstorms could cause damage to infrastructure and standing crops in the country and advised farmers to manage their activities keeping in view the weather forecast. The rainfall, it cautioned, could cause flash floods in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from May 1 to May 4 and in parts of Balochistan and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan from April 28 to May 2.
The PMD forecast further noted that day temperatures are likely to drop significantly during wet spells.
