LAHORE – First significant monsoon rains disrupted routine life in Lahore and parts of Punjab on Thursday by causing urban flooding, power outages and traffic jams.
Experts have predicted the wet spell to continue intermittently during the current week.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), moist currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal penetrate most parts of Pakistan. A westerly wave also prevails over the upper parts.
Under these weather conditions, widespread monsoon rains and gusty winds are expected in Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Sargodha, Jhang, Khushab, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad and Sahiwal on Thursday evening/night and the next two days. Isolated heavy rains are expected during the period.
Dust-raising/gusty winds and rains may also occur in southern districts (Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar). Heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams of Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeast Punjab.
Downpour may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha and Faisalabad. Landslides may cause road closures in the vulnerable hilly areas of Murree and Galiyat.
Lahore’s maximum temperature will likely remain between 34°C and 36°C on Friday and between 33°C and 35°C on Saturday.
Meanwhile, rains with isolated heavy falls occurred in Lahore and upper Punjab during the last 24 hours.
Rainfall (mm): Kasur 63, Sheikhupura 50, Joharabad 48, Sargodha City 45, Islamabad (Bokra 34, Airport 29, Zero point 22, Saidpur 21, Golra 20), Okara 30, Rawalpindi (Pirwidahi 30, Shamsabad 18), Chakwal 28, Lahore (Airport 20, City 11), Hafizabad 17, Attock 12, Gujrat 10, Faisalabad 08, Noorpur Thal 05, Narowal 03, Mangla, Sialkot 02, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh 01
Bhakkar remained the hottest place in Punjab, where the maximum temperature was recorded at 45°C. The maximum temperature in Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan was recorded at 44°C.
In Lahore, the maximum temperature was recorded at 36°C. Relative humidity in the morning was recorded at 96 per cent.
