Strong winds, hail and downpours expected nationwide through March 30; streams in K-P and Kashmir may overflow
Motorcyclists on the way at a road during dust storm before rain in Lahore. Photo: Online
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department on Sunday warned that strong winds, thunder and lightning, and heavy rain are likely across various parts of the country during the evening and night of March 29, with some areas at risk of flash flooding.
According to the department, districts in northern Balochistan — including Zhob, Musakhel, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Naseerabad, and Loralai — face a risk of flash floods due to heavy rainfall. Similarly, local streams in upper and central Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir are also at risk of overflowing from Sunday evening until Monday.
The report states that most areas of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies. Rain is expected at scattered locations in K-P, upper and central Punjab, Islamabad, northeastern Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, while isolated showers may occur in southern Punjab and Sindh. Hail and strong winds in some areas may also damage weak infrastructure.
In Punjab, particularly Lahore, intermittent rain over the past 24 hours has made the weather pleasant. The city is likely to experience occasional rain today, with the rainy spell expected to continue until March 30.
The Meteorological Department added that temperatures in Lahore have dropped to moderate levels and humidity has increased, making the weather relatively pleasant for the next few days.
Read: PMD warns of thunderstorms, hailstorm across Sindh on Saturday
The sky over Karachi is expected to remain partly cloudy to clear with occasional strong winds likely throughout the day on Sunday.
Similarly, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta, and Umerkot may also experience above-normal winds, according to the Meteorological Department.
Over the past 24 hours, parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northern Balochistan experienced rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms. The rest of the country remained dry, with skies ranging from partly cloudy to cloudy.
The Meteorological Department has advised that areas experiencing thunderstorms and heavy rain should remain cautious, particularly in northern and hilly regions prone to flash flooding.
