RAWALPINDI: The Met Office has forecast rain with thunderstorm in different parts of the country from March 27 to 31st and has asked the local administrations to remain on alert to avoid any untoward situation.

According to the meteorological department, a westerly wave may enter western parts of the country on March 27 and will grip the upper and central parts on March 28. This phenomenon is likely to persist till March 31.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain accompanied by gusty winds is expected in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Chakwal, Attock and Jhelum from the evening of March 27 till March 31.

In Punjab, rain-wind/thunderstorm has been predicted in Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha and Mianwali with occasional gaps from March 27 (evening/night) till March 31.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm is also expected in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad, Khanpur, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar from March 28 to 30th. Isolated windstorm/hailstorm has also been forecast in the province during this period.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm (snowfall over the mountains) is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Malakand, Mohmand, Karak, Khyber, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan and Kurram with occasional gaps from March 27 to 31st.

Isolated heavy fall and hailstorm has also been predicted on March 29 and 30.

Similarly, rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Azad Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) with occasional gaps from March 27 to April 1 whereas isolated heavy fall and hailstorm are expected on March 29 and 30.

The Met Office has also predicted rain-wind/thunderstorm in Balochistan’s Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhel, Kohlu, Sibbi, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Ziarat, Quetta, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Kalat and Khuzdar districts from March 27 to 29th. Dry weather/dust raising winds are also expected in the southern parts of the province.

In Sindh, rain-wind/thunderstorm has been forecast inSukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana and Dadu on March 28 and 29 while dry weather/dust raising winds in southern parts of the province.

The weather advisory warned that moderate to heavy rainfall may trigger landslides in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and may affect vulnerable points on March 29 and 30.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2024