ISLAMABAD: The Met Office has issued a warning to authorities concerned to remain on alert and take precautionary measures for coming two days as heavy falls may generate flash flooding in nullahs in several parts of the country.

The Federal Flood Commission also issued warnings about possible urban flooding in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi divisions in coming five days.

The warning comes as two separate rain systems are entering the country from two sides.

The Met Office said moderate monsoon currents from Arabian Sea were continuously penetrating into northeastern parts of Pakistan and would concentrate in upper parts of the country from tonight (Friday).

At the same time, a strong westerly wave is also expected to enter upper parts of the country on Sunday which will bring widespread rain/ thundershower ranging from moderate to heavy falls with windstorm in Kashmir, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu divisions from today (Friday) night to the middle of next week.

During these days, rain/dust thundershower is also expected at isolated places in Zhob, DI Khan, DG Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal divisions.

“Heavy falls may generate flash flooding in local nullahs/riverines of Hazara, Gujranwala, DG Khan divisions and Kashmir and may trigger landslides in Hazara division and Kashmir,” said the Met Office.

On the other hand, the Federal Flood Commission warned that floods were expected in central Punjab due to heavy rains while other areas of Punjab, including DG Khan and Sargodha divisions, could also face floods in wake of upcoming rains.

The rainfall could be serious to urban areas and the drainage systems near the Ravi and Chenab rivers could get affected by heavy rains resulting in localised floods.

At the same time, the commission observed that the rainfall would have a positive impact on water reservoirs and agriculture land.

The situation seems to be serious also because of higher inflow in the Indus River because the Met Office predicted that the average temperature in July was likely to be 1-2 degrees Celsius above normal.

“Due to above normal temperature, snow and glacier melt contribution in the flow of the Indus will be enhanced during the month,” it said.

Due to rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday, the mercury level lowered in central and upper parts of the county but sizzling continued in Sindh and parts of Balochistan as maximum temperature in Larkana was 48 degrees followed by Sibbi with 47 degrees and Dadu, Nokkundi and Moenjodaro 46 degrees.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2019