Karachi, Lahore brace for week-long rain spell from tomorrow: PMD

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said rain and thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm are expected to hit Karachi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana and other parts of Sindh from March 25.

Rain is likely to batter these cities on March 25 and 26 and then on March 28 and 29 with occasional gaps, the Met Office said, warning that windstorm/ hailstorm and lightning may damage weak structures (electric poles, bill boards, solar panels etc) during the forecast period.

The meteorological department said this in a comprehensive weather advisory predicting a week-long spell of rain, wind-thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms across the country from the evening of March 24 through March 30.

According to the Met Office, a potent western disturbance is expected to enter southwestern Balochistan tonight, intensifying by March 27 and persisting until the end of the month.

From March 24 (evening) to March 25, and again from March 27 (night) to March 29, rain and thunderstorms with scattered heavy falls are expected in Balochistan. Affected areas include the Makran Coast (Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara), Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Kalat, Khuzdar, and Panjgur. Isolated hailstorms are also predicted during this period.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will see two distinct waves. The first, from March 25 to March 26, will bring rain and hill-snow to areas including Chitral, Swat, Abbottabad, and Peshawar. A more widespread system is forecast from March 28 to 30, bringing heavy rainfall and snow to the high-altitude regions of Malakand and Hazara divisions.

The federal capital, different parts of Punjab including Rawalpindi, and major cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan are set for rain-wind/thunderstorms. The first spell is expected between March 25 and 26, with a second, more significant wave arriving on the evening of March 28 and lasting through March 30. Isolated hailstorms may occur in several districts.

Heavy rain and snowfall over the hills are predicted for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir’s various areas including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Skardu, and Hunza. The most intense activity is expected from March 28 to 30, with a high likelihood of hailstorms and heavy falls at isolated locations in Kashmir.

The PMD warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period.

Whereas, it said, due to heavy rains flash flood is expected in Balochistan from March 25 to 28, while in local stream and nullahs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from March 28 to 30.

Hailstorm/windstorm may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, it further added.

Moreover, the department advised tourists and travellers to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period.

“Farmers are advised to manage their crops according to the prevailing weather conditions,” it said predicting that day time temperatures are likely to decrease during the forecast period.