KARACHI: A powerful westerly wave is set to enter western Pakistan on Tuesday evening, gripping most of the country by Wednesday and lasting through Saturday (March 20) – Eidul Fitr, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday. The system will bring widespread rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms across all provinces, coinciding with Eidul Fitr. Authorities have been urged to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures.
Balochistan will be the first to experience impact, with rain, thunderstorms, and heavy falls — along with isolated hailstorms — expected from Tuesday evening through Friday morning. Affected areas include Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chaghi, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gawadar, Panjgur, and Awaran.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will witness rain and thunderstorms from Tuesday evening through Saturday, with snowfall over the hills and possible hailstorms at isolated locations. Affected districts include Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and the tribal districts.
Punjab and Islamabad will experience rain, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms from Tuesday night through Saturday morning. Affected areas include Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, and Multan. Districts including Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan will receive rain on March 18 and 19.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir will receive rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall over the hills from Tuesday evening through Saturday. Areas likely affected include Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, and all Kashmir districts including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Kotli, and Mirpur.
Heavy falls and hailstorms are possible at isolated places.
Sindh authorities have activated mitigation measures following a PDMA advisory. Rain and thunderstorms with strong winds and isolated hailstorms are expected in Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, and Karachi Division. Larkana, Sukkur, and Ghotki districts will receive rain on March 18 and 19.
Karachi will turn warm and humid on Tuesday, with temperatures between 33–35 Celsius and humidity reaching 85 percent in the morning. By Wednesday, partly cloudy skies with rain chances will drop temperatures to 31–33 Celsius, with morning humidity as high as 95 percent.
The Met Office has cautioned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir. Lightning strikes are possible at isolated places, and hailstorms may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. Daytime temperatures are expected to decline nationwide.
Tourists and travellers have been advised to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel. Farmers are urged to manage crops according to weather conditions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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