Monsoon spell: Met Office warns of scattered rain, thundershowers across Pakistan from July 1

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said on Monday that a fresh monsoon spell is set to begin across the country from the first week of July.

In an advisory, the department said that a westerly wave is likely to enter the upper parts of the country from June 30, while moist currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the eastern and central parts. Moist currents from the Bay of Bengal are expected to reach the upper parts from July 2.

The PMD warned of scattered rain, windstorms and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls across several regions between July 1 and July 6.

In Azad Kashmir, the districts of Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur are expected to receive rainfall from July 1 to July 6.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is forecast to see rain across a wide stretch of districts including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Peshawar, Mardan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Mohmand, Waziristan and Bannu, among others from July 1 to July 5 with occasional gaps.

Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sargodha and surrounding districts in Punjab are slated to receive rain from July 1 to July 6. Southern Punjab districts including Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur are expected to see rain from July 3 to July 5.

In Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from July 1 to July 5. Northern and northeastern Balochistan including Zhob, Kohlu, Sibbi, Harnai and Dera Bugti are expected to receive rainfall from July 1 to July 4. Parts of Sindh, including Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad and Ghotki, are forecast to see rain on July 3 and July 4.

The department warned of landslides in vulnerable areas of upper KP, GB and Kashmir from July 1 to July 6 and flash flooding in local streams and nullahs of Kashmir, KP and GB, as well as hill torrents of DG Khan, from July 2 to July 5.

Urban and flash flooding was also flagged for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad from July 1 to July 4.

The PMD also cautioned that the weather may damage infrastructure including solar panels, electric poles and billboards. Tourists were advised to avoid travel during the forecast period, and farmers were urged to plan crop activity accordingly. The department added that prevailing hot and humid conditions are likely to ease during this period.