LAHORE: The current moderate monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to intensify during this week generating rainfall, heavy at places, in upper Punjab including Lahore and Kashmir from Monday (today) to Thursday.

It remained mostly hot and humid in most parts of the country on Sunday, causing suffocating sultry weather conditions in the plain areas.

According to the Met department, at present moderate moist currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating upper parts of the country up to 5,000ft. They are likely to intensify during this week. As a result, there are chances of scattered rains in Islamabad, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha and Sialkot divisions) and Kashmir. Rains, heavy at places, will be coupled with gusty winds/ wind storms.

Dera Ghazi Khan, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar and Mardan divisions may also receive rain and windstorms during the period.

The Flood Forecasting Division said the river Kabul at Nowshera was in medium flood and all the other major rivers were flowing below low flood level.

It said scattered thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls was expected over the upper catchments of the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej in the next 24 hours. Isolated thunderstorm/rain was expected over the upper catchment of the Indus.

The Met department reported that it remained hot and humid in most parts of the country on Sunday. Dust-thunderstorm/rain with gusty winds occurred at scattered places in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Malakand, Hazara divisions, and Kashmir.

Bhakkar recorded 9mm of rain, Kot Adu 7, Layyah 5, Jhelum, Toba Tek Singh 1, Garidupatta 22, Rawalakot 3, Malamjabba 6 and Kakul 4.

Rain-dust/thundershower (few moderate to heavy falls) associated with strong gusty winds is expected at scattered places in Islamabad, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, and Faisalabad divisions), and Kashmir in the next 24 hours. Isolated rain is also likely in Dera Ghazi Khan, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan divisions during the period.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2019