Pakistan warns of heavy rains in Islamabad and the country’s north
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms, as well as heavy and very heavy downpours in some places in the upper regions of the country, including Islamabad and the Potohar region. As Dawn reports, monsoon currents and a westerly wave, which is forecast to intensify on September 4–5, will affect the weather.
Regional forecast
Intermittent rain, thunderstorms and heavy precipitation in some places are expected in Kashmir from Thursday through Sunday. The forecast covers, in particular, the Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Bagh, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur. Similar weather conditions are forecast for Gilgit-Baltistan during the same period, including in the districts of Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, thunderstorms and downpours, heavy or very heavy in some places, are possible from the evening of September 3 through September 5. The warning applies, among other places, to Peshawar, Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Waziristan.
Thunderstorms and heavy or very heavy precipitation in some places are forecast in Islamabad and upper Punjab on September 3–5. They may affect Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala and other cities. Such precipitation is expected on September 4–5 in a number of Punjab districts, including Faisalabad, Jhang, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Risk of flooding and landslides
The meteorological service warned that heavy rain on September 4–5 could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Lahore. Flash floods are also possible in local streams and watercourses in mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, as well as Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Landslides are possible in mountainous areas, so tourists and travelers were advised to exercise caution. Farmers were advised to take the forecast into account during agricultural work, while relevant services were urged to remain prepared and take necessary measures.
Heavy rain this week has already flooded low-lying areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and raised the water level in the Leh Nullah watercourse. On Monday, an approximately two-hour downpour caused water to accumulate on the streets of Rawalpindi, where some cars and motorcycles became stuck in the water.
