RAWALPINDI: More rains are expected in the country from March 28, which are likely to continue till March 31.

As per information provided by the Met Office, the weather in the twin cities will remain cool next week and urban flooding is expected which is why civic bodies have been alerted and tourists have been asked to remain cautious.

A westerly wave is likely to enter western parts of the country from March 28 and likely to grip upper and central parts on March 29 and likely to persist in upper parts of the country till March 31.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls and hailstorm is expected in Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Harnai, Qila Saifullah, Qillah Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Sibbi, Loralai, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Panjgur, Awaran, Kutch from March 28 to 31 while in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar khan, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Karachi on March 29 and 30.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the high mountains) with few moderate to isolated heavy falls with hailstorm is expected in Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Mansehra, Buner, Kohistan, Shangla, Haripur and Abbottabad, Islamabad, Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Mianwali, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal,

Lahore, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib from March 28 to March 31 with occasional gaps.

“Another westerly wave is expected to enter western and upper parts of the country on April 1 and likely to persist over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir and GB till April 4,” a Met Office spokesman said.

Strong wind and hailstorm may cause damage to infrastructure and standing crops (particularly wheat crop) in the country.

Farmers have been advised to irrigate crops, keeping in view the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast.

Heavy rains may cause flash floods in Quetta, Chaman, Pishin, Barkhan, Musakhel, Jaffarabad, Kohlu, Zhob, Loralai and hill torrents of D.G Khan on March 28 (night) and March 29 while urban flooding could happen in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Nowshera, Mardan, Waziristan, Bajur, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Kashmir, Peshawar and Lahore.

Landslides may occur in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, GB, Kashmir, Murree and Galiyat during the forecast period. Day temperatures are likely to fall significantly during the spell.

Tourists have been advised to remain more cautious during the forecast period and civic bodies have been asked to remain alert.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2023