By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A westerly weather system is expected to bring rain, thunderstorms and in some areas heavy downpours across much of Pakistan from Tuesday through Friday, coinciding with the Eid ul-Fitr holiday and prompting official warnings about lightning, hail, strong winds and travel disruptions, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Monday.
The system is forecast to enter the western parts of the country Tuesday evening or night and spread gradually eastward before easing by March 20, the PMD advisory stated. In Karachi, the country’s largest city, skies are expected to turn partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorm and rain on March 18 and 19.
More intense activity is projected elsewhere in Sindh. Rain, thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds and isolated hailstorms are likely Wednesday and Thursday in Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad and Dadu.
Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Ghotki and Sukkur face the prospect of heavy rainfall over March 18 and 19, with occasional breaks. Lightning strikes remain possible at isolated locations throughout the period, the advisory noted. The Sindh Disaster Management Authority issued a parallel alert directing local authorities to take all necessary mitigation measures.
Balochistan is expected to be among the first regions affected. Rain, wind and thunderstorms — including a few heavy falls and isolated hailstorms — are forecast to begin in the evening and night of March 17 across Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Chagai, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur and Awaran. The spell is projected to continue, with intermittent gaps, through the morning of March 20.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain and thunderstorms along with snowfall at higher elevations are anticipated from March 17 through March 20 in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan. Isolated hail is possible at a few places.
Punjab and the Islamabad capital region will also see significant rainfall. Among the areas affected are Murree and the Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara and Kasur, as well as Rawalpindi. Southern Punjab districts including Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan are expected to experience similar conditions particularly on March 18 and 19.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are in line for rain accompanied by snowfall over higher terrain, affecting Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.
Meteorological officials highlighted several risks tied to the system. Lightning could strike at scattered sites during thundery activity, while hail remains possible in isolated locations. Farmers have been urged to monitor conditions closely and manage crops accordingly. In the hilly regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, authorities warned of potential landslides on slopes and mountain roads. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain cooler than normal nationwide. Travelers planning Eid journeys were advised to check road conditions and avoid movement during the most intense periods of rain. Government departments have been placed on alert to coordinate preparedness measures throughout the forecast window.
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