Pakistan braces for week of widespread rains and thunderstorms as western disturbance approaches

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department on Monday forecast a week of rainfall and thunderstorms across much of the country, with the potential for heavy downpours, isolated hailstorms and flash flooding as a western weather disturbance moves in from the southwest.

The system is expected to approach Balochistan by the evening or night of March 24 and intensify starting the night of March 27, possibly persisting until March 31, the department said in a statement. The resulting wet spell will stretch from March 24 to March 30, punctuated by occasional gaps in activity. In Balochistan, the first province to feel the disturbance’s effects, rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms — including a few heavy falls and isolated hailstorms — is expected from the evening of March 24 through the night of March 25, and again from the night of March 27 to the morning of March 29.

Affected areas include Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, the Makran Coast districts of Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara, as well as Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin, Kalat, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Quetta, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Mastung and others. Flash floods are possible in the province from March 25 to 28, forecasters warned.

Farther north in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain, wind and thunderstorms with a few heavy falls and snowfall over the hills are forecast from the evening or night of March 25 through the morning of March 26 in districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kurram, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan. More widespread activity, including isolated heavy falls and hill snowfall, is anticipated from March 28 to 30, with hailstorms possible at isolated locations.

Punjab will see similar conditions, with rain, wind and thunderstorms — and isolated hailstorms — likely from March 25 through the morning of March 26, and again from the evening of March 28 through March 30. The affected districts stretch from Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum in the north to Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan in the south. The same pattern applies to the hill stations of Murree and Galiyat, as well as Islamabad.

In Sindh, rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms, with isolated hailstorms, is expected in Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Larkana and Karachi on March 25-26 and again on March 28-29.

Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir will also come under the influence of the system, with rain, wind and thunderstorms — along with snowfall over the hills — forecast from the evening of March 25 through March 26 and from March 28 to 30. Impacted locations include Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur. Isolated hailstorms or heavy falls are likely in Kashmir during the period.

Officials cautioned that landslides could occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Flash floods are also expected in local streams and nullahs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from March 28 to 30, and in Balochistan from March 25 to 28. Windstorms, hailstorms and lightning could damage weak structures, including electric poles, billboards and solar panels, while standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh face risks of destruction. Farmers were advised to manage their fields according to the evolving conditions. Tourists and travelers were urged to exercise extra caution and avoid unnecessary journeys during the stormy period. The department called on all concerned authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to avert any mishaps.