LAHORE: Widespread rain, heavy at places, will be lashing most of the country in the next three days, swelling the eastern rivers, especially producing medium-to-high flood in the Chenab, Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast on Tuesday.

The freak rain is expected in view of two westerly waves, one persisting over northeast of the country and another entering it via Balochistan on Tuesday.

There are chances of thunderstorm-rain, a few relatively heavy falls and hailstorm also in Lahore in the next 24 hours.

Many cities received rain on Tuesday. Sialkot airport received 29mm, Kotli 22mm, Kakul and Saidu Sharif 15mm (each), Sialkot Cantt 14mm, Rawalakot 12mm, Pattan, Balakot and Garhi Dupatta 10mm (each), Parachinar and Dir 9mm (each). Rain in quick succession and hailstorms already damaged crops in the plains of Punjab and elsewhere in March.

The Met department forecast that in the next 24 hours, widespread rain with scattered thunderstorm, along with snowfall over the hills and gusty winds, would occur over Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai agencies, upper and central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and upper Punjab (including Islamabad).

Scattered rain with isolated thunderstorm, along with light snowfall, over the hills and strong winds may come about over central and lower Punjab, lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Waziristan and northeastern Balochistan.

Isolated-to-scattered heavy falls may ensue over Fata, upper and central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, upper Punjab, along with upper catchments of the rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej. Owing to these heavy falls, the water levels of the rivers and nullahs would rise. There were also chances of localised urban flooding, hailstorm and landsliding.

In the subsequent 72 hours, widespread thunderstorm/rain, along with snowfall over the hills and gusty winds would lash the country and upper catchments of the rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.

Isolated-to-scattered heavy falls, along with a few very heavy falls, would come about over Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai agencies, upper and central KP, Kashmir, upper Punjab and northeastern Balochistan, along with upper catchments of the rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, raising their water level.

The Chenab at Marala is likely to rise and attain medium-to-high flood ranging from 140,000 to 210,000 cusecs from Wednesday noon to Thursday noon.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2015

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