LAHORE: A westerly wave that will intensify on Sunday (tomorrow) will grip most parts of the country giving widespread rains, that may be heavy at places, thunderstorms and hailstorms from Monday to Wednesday.

According to the Met department on Friday, a shallow westerly wave already affecting upper and central Pakistan is expected to intensify on Sunday.

Under the influence of this system, dust-thunderstorm/rain is expected at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Balochistan, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Saturday (today).

Widespread dust-thunderstorm/rain (with few moderate to isolated heavy falls) is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from Monday to Wednesday.

Widespread dust-thunderstorm/rain (with few moderate to isolated heavy falls) is also expected in Balochistan from Sunday evening to Tuesday.

Dust-thunderstorm/rain is expected at scattered places in Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirbad, Hyderabad and Karachi divisions) on Monday and Tuesday.

Hailstorm is also expected at isolated places during the period.

The Met department warns that heavy falls may generate flash flooding in local nullah/riverine in Makran, Quetta, Zhob and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions on Monday/Tuesday. Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Malakand, Hazara divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2019