Widespread monsoon rains and windstorms with isolated heavy downpours are expected across Pakistan’s northern and upper regions over the weekend.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), moisture-laden currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously moving into the upper parts of Pakistan. They are expected to intensify by Saturday evening. A westerly weather system is also likely to enter the region on Saturday, further increasing the chances of rainfall.
From Friday night through Monday, rain accompanied by strong winds, with isolated heavy showers, is expected in several areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.
On Saturday and Sunday, similar weather is forecast for large parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu.
The PMD has also predicted scattered rain and windstorms, with isolated heavy rainfall, in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot and Okara during the same period.
Southern Punjab is expected to receive intermittent rainfall beginning Saturday night and continuing into Sunday in areas including Noor Pur Thal, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar are also likely to receive rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds from Saturday night through Monday.
Parts of Balochistan, including Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Barkhan, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar, are expected to witness isolated rain and windstorms on Saturday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, most districts of Sindh are likely to remain hot and very humid. However, isolated rainfall is forecast for Tharparkar, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Dadu and Jacobabad on Sunday and Monday.
The PMD has urged relevant authorities to stay alert, warning that strong winds and lightning could damage vulnerable infrastructure, including solar panels, electricity poles and billboards. It also cautioned about the possibility of landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
The department warned that heavy rainfall could increase water levels in local streams across Kashmir, KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan. Localised urban flooding is also possible in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad during the weekend.
The PMD advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period and urged farmers to plan agricultural activities according to weather conditions while ensuring proper care of livestock. It added that the prevailing hot and humid weather is expected to ease as the rain system moves across the country.
