ISLAMABAD: Monsoon has arrived early in the region due to climate change, which will also lead to fewer rainy days during the season and some areas can face floods due to erratic downpours.

“Monson season usually lasts around 90 days and heavy rains, spread over wide areas, occurs for about 35 days. But this year, it will only rain for about 24 or 25 days,” a spokesman for the met office, Dr Mohammad Hanif said.

This also means there will be more hot and humid days this year and experts say the early monsoon and reduced rain are due to climate change.

Weak monsoon currents are presently penetrating the eastern and north eastern parts of the country from India and a significantly low-pressure build-up is present over northern Balochistan.

Significant and widespread rainfall is expected from the end of next week and heavy clouds from the east will bring downpours from Saturday night onwards in the Potohar region.

This spell is also likely to bring rainfall in most of Sindh including Karachi and an official of the met office said urban flood warnings may be issued midweek to relevant authorities.

“The rainfall starting from Friday evening in some parts of the country will bring rainfall and heavy downpours in Sindh as well and all concerned departments should prepare for countering water logging on the streets,” a met office official said.

Weather during the current week will remain hot and humid in most parts of the country except for isolated rains from the weak monsoon currents entering the country.

Under the impacts of these weak currents, rain and thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds are expected in isolated places in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Adequate rainfall and strong winds were witnessed at many places outside the city limits of Rawalpindi and Islamabad towards Chakri and Mandra and it rained a little in the twin cities and Murree on Sunday as well.

The met office has predicted four heavy rains in July, with the total rainfall amounting to normal but the showers in August will be below normal and the duration of the rains will also be less than normal.

Experts say such inconsistent weather conditions could result in cloudburst causing flash floods and landslides in hilly areas or the breakdown of the civic system if such heavy rains occur over urban areas.

“This could happen in September depending on the monsoon conditions in August,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2017