LAHORE: As a fresh system gave heavy rain in upper parts of the country and north-eastern Punjab on Tuesday, the Met department says monsoon system is likely to gradually weaken in the remaining parts of August and September, causing great water concerns especially for the Mangla Dam filling.

In its seasonal forecast the Met department said monsoon systems are likely to weaken gradually during August, producing less than average rainfall. It will exaggerate the prevailing drought conditions in parts of Sindh and Balochistan.

Less than average rainfall is expected in the catchment areas of the major rivers which may be a matter of great concern especially in the Mangla Dam filling.

Monsoon is most likely to decline further in September.

Meanwhile, strong monsoon currents that are continuously penetrating upper parts of the country and a westerly wave over there generated heavy rain at some places. Rawalpindi recorded 244 at Chaklala, 211 at Shamsabad, Islamabad (Zero Point 169, Bokra 120, Saidpur 109, Golra 62), Sialkot (Airport 97, City 30), Murree 90, Jhelum 53, Mangla 46, Kamra 16, Mandi Bahauddin 6, Lahore 5, Kotli 108, Muzaffarabad 96, Garidupatta 78, Rawalakot 28, Balakot 133, Kakul 62, Dir (Lower 23, Upper 2), Malamjabba 24, Parachinar 7, and Saidu Sharif 5.

More rain-thundershower with gusty winds is expected at scattered places in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, D I Khan, Kalat, Zhob, Mirpurkhas, Thatta divisions and Islamabad, while at isolated places in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, D.G.Khan, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana divisions and Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday.

Heavy falls are also expected at isolated places in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Hazara divisions and Islamabad during the period.

The Flood Forecasting Division said moderate to heavy wind-thunderstorm/rainfall with isolated heavy fall is expected over the upper catchments of all major rivers during the week. Low to medium level flows are expected in the Chenab along with nullahs of the Ravi and Chenab. Sharp peaks of medium to high level flows are expected over upstream of Mangla in the Jhelum.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2018