RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD : Twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are under heavy downpour since morning on Monday. It has created an emergency like situation in twin cities. Although intermittent shower of rains was in progress in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the last four days, but heavy downpour which is lasting in both cities for the last many hours have rang alarm bells for residents of twin cities. The Met Department has issued ALERT for all concerned departments and advised them to make appropriate readiness to cope with any untoward situation arising out of the current rainy spell.
In the latest update, the Met Department said more rains-wind/thunderstorm predicted during the week (with occasional gaps)
Met Office informed that another strong westerly wave is likely to enter western parts of the country on 16th April (night) and likely to grip most parts of Balochistan on 17th April and will extend to upper parts on 18th April. Under the influence of this weather system:
Balochistan: Rain-wind/thunderstorm (few heavy, with isolated very heavy falls) is expected in Gwadar, Kech, Awaran, Chagi, Kharan, Awaran, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Kalat, Noushki, Mastung, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Sibbi, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Barkhan, Loralai, Harnai, Qilla Saifullah, Mastung, Ziarat, Shirani, Zhob, Musa Khel and Barkhan from 16th (night) to 19th April (morning).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm (few heavy, with isolated very heavy falls) with snowfall over high mountains is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner and Malakand, Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Karak, Khyber, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan and Kurram with occasional gaps from 17th (night) to 21st April. Hailstorm is also expected at isolated places during the forecast period
Gilgit-Baltistan/Kashmir: Rain-wind/thunderstorm (few heavy falls) with snowfall over high mountains is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) with occasional gaps from 18th to 22nd April.
Punjab/Islamabad: Rain-wind/thunderstorm (with few heavy falls/hailstorm) is expected in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Pakpattan and Sahiwal from 18th to 21st April. While, in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Khanpur, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar with occasional gaps from 18th to 20th April.
Sindh: Rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Qambar Shahdad Kot, Jamshoro and Sanghar from 17th (night) to 19th April (morning).
Possible Impacts and advises:
Heavy rainfall may generate flash flooding in local nullahs/Streams of Balochistan specially (Gwadar, Kech, Awaran, Kalat, Khuzdar) on 17th & 18th April, while Dir, Swat, Chitral, Kohistan, Manshera, Tributaries of Kabul River, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from 18th to 20th April.
Possibility of landslides in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan and may affect the vulnerable locations from 18th to 21st April.
Windstorm/hailstorm and lightning may damage standing crops, loose structures like electric poles, vehicles and solar panels etc during the period.
Farmers especially in wheat harvested areas are advised to manage their crops keeping in view the weather conditions. Tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary traveling during the forecast period.
Temperatures are likely to drop during the wet spell.
