LAHORE: Major parts of the country and particularly those in the quake-hit Azad Kashmir are likely to face a week-long spell of widespread rains, heavy at places, from Wednesday (today), says the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

In its latest weather warning on Tuesday, heavy falls may generate flash flooding in Hazara, Malakand, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir, while urban flooding in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore divisions from Saturday to Monday.

Chief Meteorologist Dr Azmat Hayat Khan told Dawn that the rain spell might affect rescue operations in the quake-hit areas, particularly in Azad Kashmir, where structure was damaged at a large scale.

Showers forecast in major parts of Pakistan

Heavy falls may also generate urban flooding in Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin and Karachi on Saturday and Sunday. Possibility of landslides in districts of Malakand, Hazara, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir cannot be ruled out during the period, the Met department says, asking the authorities concerned to remain alert and take precautionary measures during the forecast period.

It said the (perhaps last) monsoon spell was being generated by increasing moist currents from the Bay of Bengal which were likely to penetrate northeastern and south eastern Pakistan and likely to strengthen from Thursday. A westerly wave was also expected to enter upper parts of the country from Friday.

Under the influence of this combination, the Met department says, rain/wind-thundershower is initially expected at scattered places in Kashmir on Wednesday and Thursday. Rain will turn widespread (with isolated heavy falls) there from Friday to Tuesday.

Gilgit-Baltistan may have isolated rain/thunderstorm during Saturday to Tuesday.

Rain/wind-thundershower is expected first at isolated places in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala on Wednesday and Thursday.

Widespread rain/thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) is expected in Islamabad, all districts of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha divisions from Friday to Tuesday. Scattered rain/wind-thunderstorm is forecast in all districts of Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal from Saturday to Tuesday.

Isolated rain/thundershower might first hit all districts of Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar and Mardan divisions during Wednesday and Thursday. But from Friday to Monday, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan are likely to brave widespread rain (with isolated heavy falls).

Rain/thundershower is expected at isolated places in districts of lower Sindh (Mirpurkhas, Umarkot, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Badin, Thatta, Dadu, and Karachi) on Wednesday and Thursday.

From Friday to Monday, there will be rain-thundershowers (with isolated heavy fall) at scattered places in districts of lower Sindh (Mirpurkhas, Umarkot, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Badin, Thatta, Dadu, and Karachi).

Rain/thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in districts of Kalat, Makran and Zhob during Saturday to Monday.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2019