Rains, thunder-hailstorms across country likely from 24th onward

KARACHI: The Met Office has predicted widespread rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms across the country from the evening and night of March 24 till March 30 in occasional gaps.

According to the Met office, a western disturbance is likely to approach the southwestern parts of Balochistan on the evening and night of March 24. The system is expected to intensify from the night of March 27 and may persist until March 31.

In Balochistan, rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with some heavy falls and isolated hailstorms are expected in Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, the Makran Coast including Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin, Kalat, Sibbi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Quetta, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat and Mastung. The weather is forecast for the evening of March 24 through the night of March 25, and again from the night of March 27 through the morning of March 29, with occasional gaps.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with some heavy falls and snowfall over the hills are forecast for Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kurram, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan from the evening and night of March 25 through the morning of March 26. Widespread rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls and snowfall over the hills are then expected from March 28 to March 30. Isolated hailstorms are also likely in the province during the period.

In Punjab and Islamabad, rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms are forecast for Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Noorpurthal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan from March 25 through the morning of March 26, and again from the evening of March 28 through March 30, with occasional gaps.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with snowfall over the hills are expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche and Shigar, as well as in the Kashmir districts of Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from the evening and night of March 25 through March 26, and from March 28 to March 30, with occasional gaps. Isolated hailstorms and heavy falls are also likely in Kashmir during the period.

In Sindh, rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms are expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Jacobabad and Larkana on March 25 and 26, and again on March 28 and 29, with occasional gaps.

The Met office has warned of several possible impacts during the forecast period. Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Flash flooding is expected in Balochistan between March 25 and 28 due to heavy rainfall, while local streams and nullahs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face flash flood risk from March 28 to 30.

Windstorms, hailstorms and lightning may damage weak structures including electricity poles, billboards and solar panels. Hailstorms and windstorms may also damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Daytime temperatures are expected to decrease during the forecast period.

Tourists and travellers have been advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period. Farmers have been urged to manage their crops in accordance with prevailing weather conditions. All concerned authorities have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to prevent any untoward situation during the forecast period.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026