The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an alert for glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) for Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, predicting that soaring temperatures are likely to persist until the first week of July.
“This significant warming will substantially accelerate snow and ice melt in the glaciated valleys of these regions,” the Met Office said in the alert issued late on Friday.
It said that consequently, the water level in the river streams was likely to remain high, existing glacial lakes may rapidly expand with an increase in their water levels, and new glacial lakes were likely to form due to the high volume of melted water.
Meanwhile, vulnerable downstream locations and low-lying areas adjacent to riverbeds may face a high risk of sudden inundation with chances of flash flooding in vulnerable locations, it added.
The Met Office further said that the rapid expansion of glacial lakes could destabilise their natural ice or moraine dams, potentially triggering Glof incidents.
The weather conditions can trigger heavy mud and debris flows down mountain slopes, with an increase in the likelihood of landslides in steep terrains, the PMD said.
It advised residents and visitors: to stay away from riverbanks, stream beds, and local nullahs; to refrain from camping, trekking, or staying near riverbanks, streams, glacial lakes and narrow mountain valleys; and avoid steep slopes and unstable terrain where melting snow could trigger landslides or debris flows.
Earlier this month, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) identified 130 potentially dangerous glacial lakes with possible risks to downstream settlements from Glofs.
Separately, the KP health department had instructed hospitals in the province to establish heat wave emergency units for the proper management of sunstroke victims due to soaring temperatures.