RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast dust-thunderstorm and rain with occasional gaps in upper parts from May 19 to May 23 (Saturday) in upper parts of the country.

The PMD said very hot weather is likely to continue in southern parts of the country in coming days and asked local and provincial authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation.

The Met office also predicted that a westerly wave is likely to approach northwestern parts of the country on May 18 (night) and it is likely to persist in upper parts of the country till May 23.

Under the influence of this weather system, dust-thunderstorm/rain with isolated hailstorm is expected in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa (Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Waziristan, Bannu, Laki Marwat, Karak); Punjab/Islamabad (Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Att­ock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Joha­rabad, Bhakkar, Layyah, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Lahore, Shei­khupura, Okara, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahuddin, Sialkot, Narowal), Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, Shigar), Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) till May 23 with occasional gaps.

It warned that the windstorm and lightning may damage weak structures (electric poles, bill boards, solar panels etc) during the forecast period.

The Met office advised farmers to manage their activities in accordance with the duststorm and rain prediction.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2026