Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a nationwide weather alert forecasting rain, windstorms, and thundershowers across Pakistan from July 18 to July 25.
Strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are entering the upper and central parts of the country and will strengthen over the weekend, while a westerly disturbance will reach the upper regions on Monday, July 20.
The weather system will bring rain, windstorms, and thundershowers with heavy falls to Kashmir from the night of July 18 to July 25, affecting Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur.
Gilgit-Baltistan regions including Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar will experience similar weather with moderate to heavy falls during this period.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), rain and windstorms are expected from the night of July 19 to July 23 in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, and Hangu.
Punjab and Islamabad will see rain and windstorms starting the night of July 19 through July 23, covering Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, and Okara.
Southern Punjab districts, including Noor Pur Thal, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan, and Rajanpur, will experience rain and thunderstorms from July 20 to July 24.
For Balochistan, the PMD has forecast rain and windstorms with isolated heavy falls in Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, and Khuzdar from July 19 to July 23.
While Sindh will remain hot and humid, Tharparkar, Mithi, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Dadu, and Jacobabad will receive isolated rain and thundershowers from the night of July 20 to July 24.
PMD warned that winds and lightning could damage infrastructure including solar panels, electric poles, and billboards.
Heavy rains are expected to cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan, and Faisalabad from July 20 to July 23.
Landslides may occur in areas of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat, and upper KP, specifically Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Mansehra, and Abbottabad between July 20 and July 25.
Flash floods are anticipated in streams and nullahs of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Northeast Punjab, Islamabad, KP, and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hill torrents may affect D.G. Khan and Northeast Balochistan.
Travelers and tourists have been advised to avoid travel to these areas, farmers are urged to manage crop activities, and authorities have been directed to remain vigilant.
