ISLAMABAD: Hot and humid conditions are expected across much of Pakistan on Saturday, while heavy rain, wind, and thundershowers are forecast for northern areas of the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, the weather department said.
However, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain accompanied by wind and thundershowers is likely at isolated locations in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, northeast Punjab, and the Pothohar region on Friday night.
Rain, wind, and thunderstorms are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Upper and Central Punjab, Islamabad, the Pothohar region, and Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday.
Isolated heavy downpours are also likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, the Pothohar region, and northeast Punjab during the evening and night.
Additionally, rain-wind/thundershowers may occur at isolated spots in South Punjab, northeast and southern Balochistan, and southeast Sindh during the evening/night hours.
Flood alert
The PMD warned that during 23rd and 24th August, torrential rains may generate flash floods in local streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Manshera, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Northeast Punjab, Kashmir, Hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas.
It said heavy downpour may cause urban flood in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Peshawar, Nowshera, and Mardan.
Landslides may lead to road closures in vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir during the forecast period.
Heavy rainfall, windstorms, and lightning may also pose risks to weak structures such as the roofs and walls of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels.
It advised the public, including travellers and tourists, to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas, and stay informed by regularly checking the latest weather updates to prevent any untoward incidents.
According to the forecast, cloudy weather with rain, wind, and thundershowers is expected in Islamabad and the surrounding areas. Isolated heavy downpours are likely during the night.
Partly cloudy and humid conditions are expected across most districts in Sindh. However, rain-wind/thundershowers are likely at isolated locations in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Mithi, and Badin during the evening or night.
In Balochistan, partly cloudy and humid weather will prevail in most areas. Rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Barkhan, Zhob, Musakhel, Quetta, Ziarat, Loralai, Sibi, Kalat, Lasbela, and Khuzdar during the evening or night.
In upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers are forecast for Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the upper districts during the evening and night.
Partly cloudy and humid conditions are likely in most districts of Punjab. Rain-wind/thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls during the night, are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, and Narowal.
Isolated showers are also likely in Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khushab, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Rajanpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan during the evening/night.
Cloudy weather with rain-wind/thundershowers is expected. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely in Kashmir during the night.
