RAWALPINDI: Gusty winds accompanied by rain turned the weather pleasant on Thursday evening, while the Met Office predicted more rain on Friday.

The day began with hot weather, as the temperature soared to 40°C in the afternoon. However, clouds covered the sun in the evening, and the gusty winds and rain brought the temperature down to 29°C by 9:00pm.

The Met Office recorded 1mm of rain at Zero Point, 4mm at Saidpur, 3mm at Golra and 1mm at Bokra in Islamabad.

The rain brought the temperature down to 29°C. “The wind speed was recorded at 40 knots (80 kilometres per hour) at Zero Point,” a Met Office official said.

He added that a westerly wave is affecting the upper parts of the country. He said that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very hot conditions are likely in the plains.

However, he said that partly cloudy weather with dust storms and rain-thundershowers is likely at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, the Potohar region, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Heavy rainfall and hailstorms are also expected at a few places in Kashmir, the Potohar region and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the period.

He further stated that windstorms, thunderstorms, hailstorms, heavy rainfall and lightning may damage loose structures such as electric poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels on Saturday, and an alert has been issued to the authorities concerned.

Meanwhile, the National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) has issued an urgent weather advisory regarding the presence of at least five active weather systems currently affecting various regions of the country.

These systems are bringing thunderstorms, gusty winds, hailstorms and heavy rainfall to different areas, with particular concern for Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

According to the NEOC, two major weather systems are merging toward the twin cities. Scattered hailstorms, windstorms and heavy rain are also anticipated in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), north Punjab and southeastern Punjab.

In southern Punjab, a slow-moving system is active over the Rohi area of Rahim Yar Khan. This system is gradually extending toward Rahim Yar Khan city, Sadiqabad and Minthar, bringing light to moderate rainfall.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an active weather system stretches from Peshawar to Parachinar, featuring thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain.

This system is expected to affect Peshawar, Darra Adam Khel and surrounding areas. Azad Jammu and Kashmir is also under the influence of an active weather system extending from Muzaffarabad into the Neelum Valley, bringing rainfall and potential storm activity.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025