LAHORE, July 29: The meteorological department has forecast widespread thunderstorm and rain in the province for Sunday (today).

According to the weather forecast released by the meteorological department on Saturday evening, thunderstorm and rain were expected due to the strengthening of the monsoon low developing over West Bengal on Friday, continuing high air pressure on Azad Kashmir and a well marked seasonal low all over Balochistan.

Scattered thunderstorm and rain were expected in Lahore division, fairly widespread thunderstorm and rain in Gujranwala division and thunderstorm and rain in Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions during the next 24 hours as a result.

The department also forecast rain in the catchment areas of all the major rivers, Southern Sindh and parts of the NWFP. Light to heavy rainfall was recorded in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Domail. Jassar, Barakhan, Dhok Pattan, Besham and Shinkiari on Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Lahore flood forecasting centre reported medium flood in the Chenab at Qadirabad and low flood at Khanki and Marala. River Indus was in low flood at Tarbela and Ravi in low flood at Balloki. Water level was recorded at 1,512 feet in Tarbela against a maximum storage capacity of 1,550 feet and 1194.35 feet in Mangla against a maximum storage capacity of 1,202 feet.