ISLAMABAD – Rains and gusty winds with isolated heavy falls lashed Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and parts of Pakistan on Wednesday, disrupting routine life by causing urban flooding, power outages, and traffic congestion.
Experts have predicted the wet spell to continue with isolated heavy falls on Wednesday evening/night and Thursday.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), monsoon currents penetrate most parts of Pakistan. A westerly wave also affects the central/southern parts of the country.
Under these conditions, more rains and gusty winds with isolated heavy falls are predicted in the twin cities, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan on Wednesday evening/night and Thursday with occasional gaps.
Heavy to very heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams of Murree, Galiyat, Manshera, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and parts of Balochistan (Barkhan, Kohlu, Musakhel, Dera Bugti, Naseerabad, Sibi, Loralai, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Panjgur and Turbat).
Landslides/mudslides may cause road closures in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir. Downpour may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera and Peshawar.
Islamabad’s maximum temperature is expected to remain between 34°C and 36°C on Thursday and between 35°C and 37°C on Friday.
Rawalpindi’s maximum temperature is expected to remain between 33°C and 35°C on Thursday and between 34°C and 36°C on Friday.
Meanwhile, rains and gusty winds with isolated heavy falls occurred in the twin cities, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, northeastern Balochistan, and Padidan during the last 24 hours. Light rain is reported at a few places in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Rainfall (mm):
Punjab: Rawalpindi (Shamsabad 65, Chaklala 42, Pirwidahi 18, Kacheri 12), Islamabad (City 63, Saidpur 62, Golra 33, Airport 25, Bokra 21), Khanewal 51, Sahiwal 44, Murree 41, Faisalabad 36, Lahore Airport & Okara 30, Sheikhupura 28, Mandi Bahauddin 27, Mangla 24, Lahore City 23, Jhelum 18, Toba Tek Singh 13, Multan Airport 06, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur City 03, Gujrat & Kasur 02, Bahawalnagar 01
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Kakul 55, Malam Jabba 43, Dir 26, Pattan 17, Saidu Sharif 14, Takht Bai 12, Balakot 11, Lower Dir 04
Kashmir: Muzaffarabad 44, Kotli 23, Rawalakot 20, Garhi Dupatta 18
Balochistan: Lasbella 04
Sindh: Padidan 01
Nokkundi and Dalbandin remained the hottest places in Pakistan, where the maximum temperature was recorded at 45°C. The maximum temperature in Chilas was recorded at 42°C, and in Turbat, Bahawalnagar and Noorpur Thal at 41°C.
In Islamabad, the maximum temperature was recorded at 35°C. Relative humidity in the morning was recorded at 96 per cent.
In Rawalpindi, the maximum temperature was recorded at 34°C. Relative humidity in the morning was recorded at 88 per cent.
Widespread monsoon rains with heavy falls expected in Pakistan till July 10
