Karachi braces for wet spell as PMD forecasts rain, hailstorm across Sindh
- Farmers have been advised to take necessary precautions and manage their crops
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday forecast rain and thunderstorm in Karachi and several other districts of Sindh as a fresh westerly wave is expected to enter the western regions of the country on Tuesday (tomorrow).
As per the Met Office’s weather advisory, several districts across Sindh are likely to experience rain/thunderstorm with strong winds and isolated hailstorm.
Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, and the Karachi Division are expected to experience rain under the influence of this weather system, it said.
Rain and thunderstorms with strong winds are also anticipated in Larkana, Kambar Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Ghotki, and Sukkur, with occasional gaps between spells during March 18 and 19.
The meteorological department has cautioned the public regarding the risk of lightning strikes at isolated places during the forecast period.
Additionally, farmers have been advised to take necessary precautions and manage their crops in accordance with the prevailing weather conditions to mitigate any potential damage from strong winds or hail.
New westerly wave to bring more rain across Pakistan
Meanwhile, the PMD also forecast more rain-wind/thunderstorm in various parts of the country from March 17 to 20.
“Partly cloudy to cloudy weather is expected in upper parts of the country while rain, wind and thunderstorm are likely to hit Balochistan and adjoining areas during Eid days,” the PMD said.
The Met Office predicted that another westerly wave is likely to approach western parts of the country on March 17 (evening/night) and likely to grip most parts of the country on March 18 and may persist till March 20.
Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind/thunderstorm with few heavy falls and isolated hailstorm is expected in Balochistan’s Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chaghi, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gawadar, Panjgur and Awaran from March 17 to 20 with occasional gaps.
Rain-wind/thunderstorm with few heavy falls (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Bunner, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan from March 17 (evening/night) to 20. Hailstorm is also likely at isolated places during this period.
In Punjab, rain-wind/thunderstorm (with isolated hailstorm) is expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Jhang, Noorpurthal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot and Narowal, Lahore, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur from March 17 to 20. Rain-wind/thunderstorms (with isolated hailstorm) also expected in Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan on March 18 and 19.
Rain-wind/thunderstorm (with snowfall over the hills) is expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, Shigar areas of Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir’s Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur on from March 17 to 20. Heavy falls/hailstorm is likely at isolated places in Kashmir during the period.
Sindh Rain-wind/thunderstorm (with isolated hailstorm) is expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Naushero Feroz, Kashmore, Larkana, Sanghar, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirbad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umer Kot and Tharparkar on March 18 and 19.
The Met Office has warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during this period. Lightning strikes may also occur at isolated places, it added.
“Hailstorm/windstorm may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh,” the weather advisory department said, advising tourists and travellers to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast.
Farmers are advised to manage their crops according to the prevailing weather conditions. Day time temperatures are likely to decrease during the forecast period.