Pakistan weather alert: PMD forecasts rain and storms in upper regions

Pakistan’s weather outlook shifted again on Friday as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast scattered rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in the country’s upper regions over the next 24 hours. The advisory points to unstable conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad and parts of Punjab, even as much of the rest of the country is expected to remain hot and dry. The update is important because it signals a split weather pattern, with relief in some places but continued heat pressure in others.

According to the forecast, the main zone of activity will remain in the north and northwest, where cloud build-up and local storm systems are likely to trigger brief but potentially disruptive spells of rain. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the expected affected areas include Dir, Chitral, Swat, Malam Jabba, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Bajaur, Khyber, Kohat, Parachinar, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Kurram. Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir are also expected to see partly cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms, indicating that hill and valley districts may face fast-changing conditions through the day and into the night.

Punjab is also in the line of unsettled weather, though not uniformly across the province. The Met Office expects rain and thunderstorms in districts including Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Faisalabad, Lahore and Sialkot, while Murree and the Galliyat may receive lighter rainfall accompanied by gusty winds. In Islamabad and nearby areas, partly cloudy conditions with a chance of rain and thunderstorms have been forecast. That means the federal capital could see short bursts of stormy weather rather than a full-day rainy spell, a pattern that often causes brief traffic disruption and local drainage pressure.

The official forecast also makes clear that the weather threat is not limited to rainfall alone. The PMD has warned of rain-windstorms, which means strong gusts could accompany showers in several places. Such conditions can create short-term hazards for commuters, motorcyclists, electricity feeders and roadside vendors, especially in dense urban areas. Even where rainfall remains limited, sudden winds and lightning can still create operational problems for transport, open-air trade and local power supply.

At the same time, the department said hot and dry weather would continue in most other parts of Pakistan. Sindh is expected to remain largely under heat stress, although Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad and nearby areas may see partly cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms. In Balochistan, most districts are likely to stay dry, but Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Khuzdar, Chaman and surrounding localities may receive isolated rain and gusty winds. This mixed picture shows that the country is not entering a broad wet spell, but rather a patchy and region-specific phase of weather instability.

The timing of the alert matters because late April often brings a transition period in which rising temperatures begin to interact with developing seasonal systems. In Pakistan, that usually means one part of the country can stay under extreme heat while another experiences brief storms, dust-raising winds or local rain. The latest advisory reflects that pattern clearly: northern and upper districts may get temporary relief and unstable skies, while the southern and central belts continue to face persistent warmth and dry conditions.

For residents, the practical meaning of the forecast will vary by location. In rain-hit districts, farmers, transport operators and local administrations will need to stay alert for slippery roads, reduced visibility and possible interruptions to routine activity. In heat-affected zones, the concern remains dehydration, prolonged sun exposure and pressure on water and electricity use. This difference is important because a national forecast can sometimes appear contradictory unless read region by region. Friday’s outlook is one of those cases, with storms and heat existing side by side across Pakistan.

The broader impact on Pakistan could be felt in daily mobility, local commerce and public services. Thunderstorms in major urban centres such as Lahore, Islamabad or Peshawar can quickly slow traffic, affect outdoor business and increase demand for emergency municipal response. In agricultural districts, even scattered rain can help standing crops and lower temperatures for a short time, but gusty winds or lightning can also damage weaker structures and create safety risks in open fields. For provincial disaster managers, such forecasts require a balanced response because not every district faces the same threat.

The next 24 hours will now be closely watched for how widely the forecast materialises and whether the system strengthens into a broader weather event. For now, the PMD’s message is cautious but clear: upper Pakistan should prepare for isolated storms, while much of the rest of the country should remain ready for continuing heat. That combination makes this less a single national weather event and more a reminder that Pakistan is entering a season in which local conditions can change quickly and require constant monitoring.