The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that the country is expected to witness monsoon rains starting from July 3 (tomorrow).
According to the Met Office on Sunday, the monsoon rains will start from July 3 to 8 in the country. The moist currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate in the upper parts of the country and a westerly wave is also likely to enter in the upper parts of the country on July 3 (evening/night).
Karachi and other cities in Sindh including Sukkur, Jacobabad Ghotki, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Mithi, Chhor, Padidan, Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Dadu, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad are expected to receive rain/wind-thundershower with isolated heavy falls on July 7 and 8.
Meanwhile, rain/wind-thundershower with few heavy falls/hailstorms are expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh from July 3 — evening or night — to July 8 with occasional gaps.
“Rain/wind-thundershower with isolated heavy falls are also expected in Barkhan, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Lasbella, Awaran, Musakhel, D.I Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, D.G khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal and Okara from July 5 to 8,” said the Met department.
What are the impacts and advices?
The national weather forecasting centre also said that the heavy rain may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from July 4 to 7.
“Heavy falls may cause flash floods in hill torrent areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of northeast Balochistan from July 6 to 8,” it added.
The Met Office also warned that loose structures like electric poles, solar panels etc may damage during dust storms, wind-thunderstorm and heavy falls and the general public is advised to stay in safe places during the period.