Islamabad:
A significant change in weather is sweeping across Pakistan, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting a new spell of rain, windstorms, thunderstorms, and hailstorms from October 3 to October 7. The Met Office has indicated that temperatures are likely to drop significantly during this wet period.
The forecast has prompted the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to issue an alert regarding a potential increase in river flow due to heavy rainfall expected in the province between October 5 and 7.
Forecast Across Key Regions:
Punjab:
- Oct 2 (night) to Oct 3: Isolated rainfall and thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum.
- Oct 4 to Oct 6: Widespread rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with scattered heavy falls is forecast across most of Punjab, including Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, and Bahawalpur. Hailstorm is also expected during this intense period.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB):
- Oct 2 to Oct 7: Almost all districts of KP, including Dir, Swat, Peshawar, and Dera Ismail Khan, will receive widespread rain and thunderstorms.
- Oct 4 to Oct 7: Widespread rain and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms are expected in Kashmir (Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad) and GB (Diamer, Astore, Skardu). Snowfall is also likely over the high mountains in these northern regions.
Sindh and Balochistan:
- October 3: Rain/windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls is expected in Southern Sindh, covering Tharparker, Umer Kot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, and Karachi.
- Oct 4 to Oct 6: Similar conditions are expected at isolated places in Balochistan’s central and eastern districts, including Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, and Quetta.
Safety Warnings and Hazards:
The PMD has issued critical warnings for the public, stating that the heavy rains may trigger landslides in vulnerable hilly areas of KP, GB, and Kashmir. Furthermore, there is a risk of urban flooding in major cities.
Crucially, the heavy rainfall from October 4 to 6 may generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams in vulnerable areas of KP (Swat, Dir, Mansehra), Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, and Kashmir. Residents in these regions have been advised to take necessary precautions.
