Pakistan received about 54 percent more rains than normal between Jan 1 and Mar 22, 2019, the Met Office has said. During the past 22 days, the country's rainfall was above normal, as comparatively Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh recorded a close to the usual precipitation over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but below normal to Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. In February 2019, Pakistan witnessed an above normal rainfall by 61 percent. In January 2019, the rainfall also remained above normal.
It warned that no rains are expected in drought plagued areas of Sindh, saying that some relief people of the vulnerable parts of Balochistan have received - struck by the prolonged dry weather - from the recent rainy spells. However, Panjgur, Washuk, and Gwadar Districts are feared to face a mild drought from the dry weather spell ahead.
But, Karachi, Hyderabad, Mityari, Qambar Shadadkot, Sajawal, Sanghar, Thatta, Umerkot and Tharparkar Districts of Sindh are likely to witness a moderate drought. In days to come, normal and wet weather conditions are expected elsewhere in the country.
Rainfall per district in Balochistan between Mar 7 and Mar 14: Barkhan received 34 mm, Kalat 29 mm, Zhob 21 mm, Sibbi 20 mm, Khuzdar 17.8 mm, Jiwani 14 mm, Turbat 11.7 mm, Quetta (Shaikh Manda) 11.2 mm, Gwadar 10 mm, Panjgur 7 mm, Lasbella 6 mm, Dalbandin 4.1 mm and Ormara 3.2 mm.
Districts in Sindh: Jacobabad received 36.1 mm of rains, Larkana 18 mm, Mohen-Jo-Daro 17 mm, Dadu 4 mm, Karachi 2.2 mm, Rohri and Sukkur 2 mm, each, Thatta 1.2 mm and Padidan 1 mm.
In the next 24 hours: Mainly dry weather is expected in the most parts of the country with an isolated rain-thunderstorm and light snowfall over the hills with gusty winds in Quetta, Zhob, Kalat, D G Khan, Sukkur, Larkana and Bahawalpur Divisions.
"Continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country. However, a shallow westerly wave is affecting north-eastern parts of Balochistan & its adjoining areas and may persist during next 24 to 48 hours," the Met said.
Over the past 24 hours: A dry weather gripped the most parts of the country with an isolated rain-thunderstorm struck Sargodha, Multan, D G Khan, Quetta, Zhob, Kohat and D I Khan Divisions. Minimum temperature was recorded in Kalam as minus 5 degrees Celsius and Astore minus 1.
Bhakkar received 8 mm of rains, Joharabad 5 mm, Zhob and Parachinar 4 mm, each, Layyah 3 mm, Noorpurthal and Barkhan 2 mm, each and Quetta and D I Khan 1 mm, each.