Heavy rainfall in capital confined to small area

Published August 25, 2016
Children play in the rain in Islamabad on Wednesday. — APP
Children play in the rain in Islamabad on Wednesday. — APP

ISLAMABAD: Other than waterlogged roads and congested traffic, the unexpected downpour in the federal capital on Wednesday remained harmless, and no complaints were received by the fire brigade or any other authority related to the rainfall.

A Met Office official said even though 72 millimetres of rainfall was received in Islamabad in a small span [of time] – around half an hour – it remained in the Blue Area to I-8 radius.”

Since the main catchments of Nullah Lai do not fall within this radius, the water level in Golra, Katarian and Gawalmandi remained normal. Traces of rainfall were recorded in most areas in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The strong winds that accompanied the rainfall, coming from the north and northeast, also significantly reduced temperatures in the twin cities. The temperature in Islamabad at 8pm on Wednesday was recorded as 21 degrees Celsius, compared to 28 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

In Rawalpindi, the rainfall continued for ten minutes, and the temperature dropped to 36 degrees Celsius. The Met Office reported light rainfall, but has forecast isolated rain and cool winds during the next 24 hours.

“The seasonal low lies over northwest Balochistan and adjoining areas, and monsoon low pressure lies over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Rajasthan. Due to this, low pressure monsoon currents are penetrating eastern parts of the country,” a Met Office official said.

He said rainfall and thunderstorms are expected in scattered places in Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Thatta divisions, Islamabad and isolated places in Zhob, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Hazara divisions and Kashmir. “Hot and humid weather is expected elsewhere in the country.”

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2016

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