The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of continuous monsoon activity and a westerly wave affecting the upper and central parts of the country, triggering heavy rains, urban flooding, and potential landslides through August 23. According to the Met Office, strong monsoon currents entering the region, combined with a upper-level westerly system, will bring scattered rain-wind and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls across Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan starting Friday night. Rain-wind and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls are expected in Kashmir’s Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Bagh, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from Friday night through August 23. Gilgit-Baltistan districts, including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, and Hunza, will also receive showers during this period. Widespread rain-thundershowers are forecast for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Swat, Dir, Chitral, Kohistan, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, DI Khan, and adjoining tribal districts from Friday evening through August 23. The federal capital alongside Punjab’s Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Lahore will experience heavy falls from Friday night to Sunday morning. Central and southern Punjab districts, including Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Layyah, and DG Khan, are projected to receive rainfall on Saturday. Sindh & Balochistan: While hot and humid weather will prevail across most southern plains, isolated rain-wind/thundershowers are predicted for Musakhel, Barkhan, Zhob, Kalat, and Khuzdar on Friday evening and Saturday. The Met Office warned that torrential downpours may trigger urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Lahore over the weekend. Flash flooding is also anticipated in local nullahs and mountain streams across Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. Furthermore, landsliding threatens vulnerable hilly routes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, and Azad Kashmir. Travellers and tourists heading to northern areas are advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel during peak spell hours. Farmers have been urged to adjust crop management activities and secure livestock in view of the rainfall forecast. Disaster management institutions and local administration nationwide have been instructed to maintain high vigilance and deploy machinery in vulnerable areas to address potential emergencies.
PMD forecasts downpours across upper, central regions over weekend
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