Residents of Karachi have recently observed overcast conditions, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday forecasting light drizzle for some parts of the city during the morning and night. With a 10-kilometer per hour sea breeze and 82% humidity, temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 33 to 35 degrees Celsius, and the weather will likely remain partly cloudy. The minimum temperature recorded in the past 24 hours was 28°C.
This forecast comes as the metropolis has experienced intermittent light showers in recent days. The Met Office has advised residents to stay updated on weather information and take necessary precautions, especially in flood-prone and densely populated urban areas.
The ongoing monsoon season has led to heavy rains across the country, resulting in flash floods and other incidents, causing 72 fatalities and injuring 130 others. Statistics show an increase in deaths from June 26 to July 6, with the highest number recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). KP reported 28 deaths, followed by 22 in Punjab, 15 in Sindh, seven in Balochistan, and four in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The monsoon spells also damaged at least 161 houses and swept away 91 livestock. During this period, emergency responders conducted 19 rescue operations, saving 233 individuals and distributing essential items to affected citizens.
Monsoon Alert: Flood and Landslide Risks Across Pakistan
With monsoon activity expected to intensify across the nation, the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has issued an alert for potential floods until July 10. The alert highlights the possibility of river and stream overflows in multiple regions, including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Specifically, low-level flooding is anticipated at Marala and Qadirabad on the Chenab River.
The NDMA also stated that major rivers, including the Indus, Chenab, Swat, Panjkora, Chitral, Hunza, and various local waterways, might experience rising water levels. Additionally, there’s a fear of flash floods in northeastern Punjab, particularly in streams originating from the Pir Panjal mountain range.
Beyond the NDMA’s warning, the PMD forecasts widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers across several regions from the night of July 6 to July 8. This wet spell is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in various locations, posing potential risks of flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides, especially in northern and hilly areas.
Thundershowers are expected in KP, Punjab, northeastern and southern Balochistan, southeastern Sindh, Kashmir, and Islamabad. Isolated heavy downpours are projected for Upper Punjab, the Potohar region, Islamabad, KP, AJK, and northern Balochistan. The Met Office has warned that heavy to very heavy rains could trigger flash flooding in local streams and nullahs in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, hill torrents of D.G. Khan, northeastern Punjab, Kashmir, and parts of Balochistan. The risk of landslides and mudslides is high in vulnerable mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir, which could lead to road closures and travel disruptions.
The department has also cautioned about possible urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar.
Punjab is expected to receive widespread rain with chances of isolated heavy falls in Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, Okara, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, and Dera Ghazi Khan.
In Sindh, mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most districts. However, rain-wind/thundershowers may occur in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Thatta, Mithi, Sanghar, Dadu, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Kashmore, Shikarpur, and nearby areas.
