PMD Warns of Heavy Rain, Urban Flooding Across Upper Pakistan
Pakistan's Meteorological Department has warned of another spell of potentially heavy monsoon rain across large parts of the country's upper regions, with Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan among the areas expected to be affected in the coming days. The advisory comes after recent downpours caused waterlogging and disruption in the twin cities.
According to the PMD advisory issued on Wednesday, monsoon currents are continuing to penetrate the upper parts of Pakistan while a westerly weather system is also influencing conditions. The department expects that system to strengthen on September 4 and 5, increasing the possibility of rain, thunderstorms and locally intense downpours across several regions.
Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are forecast to receive rain-wind and thunderstorms from Thursday through Sunday, with isolated heavy falls possible. The affected areas include Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Poonch, Bagh and Mirpur in Kashmir, as well as Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faces a heightened risk from the evening of September 3 through September 5. The PMD forecast scattered heavy rain, with very heavy falls possible in some locations, including Peshawar, Chitral, Swat, Dir, Kohistan, Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Abbottabad and several tribal districts. Similar conditions are expected in Islamabad and upper Punjab, covering Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Faisalabad and surrounding districts.
The weather agency specifically cautioned that intense rainfall could produce urban flooding in low-lying parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Lahore on Friday and Saturday. Flash flooding is also possible in local streams and nullahs in northern and mountainous areas, while landslides may affect hilly districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir.
Authorities, travellers and tourists have been urged to remain alert as conditions develop. Farmers have also been advised to adjust agricultural activities according to the forecast, while relevant departments have been asked to take precautionary measures. Sindh and most of Balochistan are expected to remain mainly hot and humid, although isolated thunderstorms are possible in parts of northern Balochistan.
The warning follows successive spells of heavy rain in Islamabad and Rawalpindi earlier this week. Low-lying neighbourhoods were inundated, water levels rose in Leh Nullah and vehicles became stranded on flooded roads. With another stronger weather system expected, the immediate focus will be on drainage preparedness, monitoring waterways and issuing timely alerts if rainfall intensifies beyond forecast levels.