• Lahore, twin cities face urban flooding risk
• Flash floods, landslides threaten hilly areas in KP, GB and AJK
RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast another spell of rain and thundershowers across upper and central parts of the country from Aug 13 (today) to Aug 15, along with warning of potential urban flooding, flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas.
The Met Office said monsoon currents are penetrating the upper parts of the country, while a westerly wave is also affecting the region.
Under the influence of these weather systems, wind, rain and thundershowers with occasional heavy falls are expected in several areas.
Rain, wind and thunderstorms, with occasional heavy falls, are forecast for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region from Aug 13 to Aug 15.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the weather system will affect the Hazara, Malakand, Peshawar and Mardan divisions.
Landslides remain a significant risk in vulnerable mountainous terrains, particularly in Murree, the Galiyat region, GB, AJK, and KP’s Hazara and Malakand divisions.
In Punjab, the Met office forecast significant rainfall across the Lahore, Gujranwala and Gujrat divisions, as well as the capital territory of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and the Potohar region.
Showers are also predicted for the Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions, along with northeastern parts of Balochistan.
“Partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions are expected in southeastern and coastal areas of Sindh with chances of rain, wind and thundershowers in Tharparkar, Umerkot and Sanghar districts on August 13,” the advisory said, noting that hot and humid weather will prevail elsewhere in the province.
The authority also warned that heavy downpours could trigger severe urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mardan and Swabi.
Separately, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab also issued a similar warning of another monsoon spell through Aug 15, saying vulnerable areas could face urban flooding, flash flooding and landslides.
“Timely desilting and clearance of drains should be ensured, while heavy earth-moving machinery should be pre-positioned at vulnerable points for rapid response,” the PDMA said in its advisory.
The Motorway Police was directed to issue regular traffic advisories and updates on road conditions, while Rescue 1122 was asked to keep search-and-rescue teams and equipment ready for emergencies.
Authorities advised tourists and travellers to remain cautious during the forecast period and urged farmers to manage crop activities according to weather conditions and protect livestock.
Residents were also advised to avoid unnecessary travel during storms, stay away from waterlogged areas, electricity wires and poles, and avoid open spaces during thunderstorms.
The PDMA urged people to avoid staying in dilapidated and mud-built houses and contact its helpline 1129 in case of an emergency.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026
