PMD Issues GLOF Alert for GB and KP as Flood Risk Rises
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a fresh alert for possible glacial lake outburst floods in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a new westerly weather system approaches the northern mountain belt. The warning was released on Saturday amid concerns that rainfall, thunderstorms and above-normal temperatures could combine to create dangerous conditions in glaciated valleys.
According to the advisory, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with moderate to heavy rain is expected in several upper areas during the coming week. These conditions are considered sensitive because warmer daytime temperatures are already affecting snow-covered and glacier-fed regions, increasing the pace of melting.
The department warned that the combination of heat and precipitation could rapidly raise water volumes in rivers, streams and glacial lakes. Existing lakes may expand, new temporary lakes may develop and downstream communities could face sudden surges of water mixed with debris, mud and broken ice.
PMD officials advised residents, tourists and local administrations to treat the alert seriously, particularly in areas close to rivers, nullahs, stream beds and narrow mountain valleys. The department also urged disaster management bodies and relevant departments to remain on round-the-clock alert and take precautionary measures before any emergency develops.
The warning is especially important for remote mountain communities where a glacial lake outburst can cut off roads, damage bridges and destroy homes within minutes. Such incidents often leave little time for evacuation, making early warning, local monitoring and community-level preparedness critical for saving lives.
Pakistan’s northern regions are highly exposed to glacier-related disasters because the country contains one of the world’s largest concentrations of glaciers outside the polar regions. Climate-linked warming has increased concern among experts, with thousands of glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral reported to be shrinking or becoming unstable over time.
Earlier this year, national emergency authorities had also flagged the risk of glacial lake outburst floods from spring to late summer because of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. The fresh advisory now adds urgency as monsoon-linked moisture and westerly systems increase the likelihood of extreme weather in vulnerable valleys.
The impact could extend beyond isolated villages. Flooding in the north can disrupt the Karakoram Highway, local tourism, hydropower infrastructure, agricultural land and supply routes connecting high-altitude settlements with major towns. Any major event would also place additional pressure on provincial and district disaster response teams.
Authorities are expected to continue issuing updates as the westerly wave moves closer and weather conditions evolve. For now, residents and visitors in glacier-fed regions have been urged to avoid risky travel, monitor official alerts and stay away from unstable slopes, water channels and glacial lakes until the threat level eases.