ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a fresh weather advisory forecasting widespread thunderstorms, heavy rains and gusty winds across upper and central regions of the country from the night of 27 May through 31 May.
According to the PMD, moist currents are penetrating the northern and central parts of Pakistan, while a westerly weather system is expected to enter the northern regions by 28 May, triggering active weather conditions.
The affected areas are expected to include Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and large parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including major cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Abbottabad.
Murree, Mianwali, Sargodha, and Gujranwala are also likely to experience heavy downpours, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms.
The Met Office warned that strong winds and lightning could pose a serious threat to vulnerable infrastructure such as power lines, trees, solar panels, and vehicles—especially in exposed urban areas like Islamabad and surrounding districts.
Farmers have been advised to plan agricultural activities with caution, while travellers and tourists are urged to remain vigilant during the weather spell.
Light to moderate rain is also forecast for parts of Balochistan and southern Punjab, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Zhob, between 27 and 30 May.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also issued an alert on Monday, forecasting intermittent rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds in most districts of the province starting Tuesday evening through Saturday.
Areas expected to be affected include Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, and Peshawar, among others.
The PDMA has instructed all district administrations to ensure preparedness and readiness of both light and heavy machinery to respond to emergencies.
It urged residents to avoid contact with electric wires, weak structures, and signboards during the storms. Tourists and locals in upper sensitive regions have been advised to remain aware of weather conditions and avoid unnecessary travel.
The latest weather alert follows severe storms that swept through central and northern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 19 people and injuring over 100.
The severe weather came after an intense heatwave that pushed temperatures above 45°C in several regions.
According to Mazhar Hussain, spokesperson for the Punjab PDMA, the windstorms were triggered by excessive heat that had persisted for several days.
“This windstorm was particularly destructive. The wind speed was very high, and visibility was greatly reduced due to the dust,” Hussain told AFP.
Most of the fatalities were caused by collapsing roofs, falling walls, and uprooted trees. In some incidents, people were struck by dislodged solar panels, billboards and lightning strikes.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, powerful winds and hailstorms damaged crops and electricity infrastructure. According to the provincial PDMA, over 113 power feeders tripped, leading to extended outages in areas including Peshawar, Mardan, and Swat.
