ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday issued a flash flood warning for several districts as heavy monsoon rains are forecast across much of the country on Friday.
The weather department has advised residents, especially those in flood-prone areas, to take precautions as thunderstorms, windstorms, and heavy downpours are expected to impact daily life and infrastructure.
The PMD, in its daily weather advisory, said widespread rain and thundershowers are likely in parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), northeastern Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, hot and humid weather will continue to prevail in most of Sindh and southern Balochistan.
Flash flood risk
The Met Office warned that heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding in local streams and nullahs, particularly in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa such as Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, and Tank.
Similar warnings have been issued for parts of South Punjab, including Dera Ghazi Khan and Layyah, and for the hilly areas of Murree, Galliyat, and parts of Kashmir.
“Flash floods may occur due to heavy rainfall. Citizens living near watercourses and in vulnerable structures should remain alert,” the PMD said in a public advisory.
Regional forecasts
Islamabad
The capital is expected to remain partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms during the day.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Rain is forecast for Chitral, Swat, Buner, Shangla, Kohistan, Abbottabad, and Peshawar, as well as the southern districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Waziristan, and Tank, according to PMD.
Punjab
Upper and central Punjab—including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Jhang—are likely to receive rain-wind/thundershowers, according to PMD.
Southern Punjab, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Vehari, and Sahiwal, may experience rain with isolated heavy falls.
Sindh
Most of Sindh will remain hot and humid. However, isolated rain is possible in Tharparkar, Umerkot, and coastal areas during the evening or night, the weather department said.
Balochistan
Rain-thundershowers are likely in Barkhan, Musakhel, Zhob, Khuzdar, Lasbela, and Awaran. The rest of the province is expected to experience hot and humid conditions.
Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
These northern areas of the country are forecast to see cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms. Some areas in Kashmir may experience heavy rainfall, potentially worsening existing landslide risks.
Recent rainfall and temperature trends
Significant rainfall in the past 24 hours was recorded in Bannu (38mm), Layyah (35mm), Bahawalnagar (29mm), and Malam Jabba (16mm), according to PMD data. Other areas, including Kalam, D.I. Khan, Parachinar, and Toba Tek Singh, also received moderate rain.
Despite the rains, high temperatures persisted in parts of Balochistan. Nokkundi recorded the highest temperature at 45°C, followed by Dalbandin (44°C), Panjgur (43°C), and Sibi (42°C).
