Pakistan Braces for More Monsoon Rains as Met Office Warns of Heavy Showers Across the Country
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a new weather alert predicting more monsoon rains across various parts of the country, including Karachi, from Friday (today) until Monday, August 12. The forecast comes as strong winds are expected to sweep through the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, bringing with them the potential for heavy downpours and thundershowers.
The PMD’s latest forecast warns that rain-wind and thundershowers are likely to occur in multiple regions of Sindh, particularly affecting areas such as Mithi, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, and Karachi, among others. These regions are expected to experience periods of rainfall from August 9 to 11, with occasional gaps in between. The forecast also indicates that Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and a critical economic hub, may be particularly vulnerable to these weather conditions, as heavy rains are anticipated in the metropolis.
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Earlier this month, the Met Office had already predicted one or two spells of heavy rains in Karachi from August 4 to 7, during which the city experienced light to moderate showers. However, the upcoming system appears to be more intense, potentially exacerbating the city’s challenges related to urban flooding and drainage.
In addition to Sindh, the PMD has extended its forecast to include various parts of Punjab, where rain-wind and thundershowers, accompanied by scattered heavy falls, are expected from August 9 to 12. The affected areas include major cities such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, as well as other districts including Sargodha, Sialkot, and Gujranwala. Residents in these areas are advised to remain vigilant as the weather system could bring significant rainfall, potentially leading to flash floods in vulnerable regions.
Southern Punjab is also under the threat of heavy rainfall, with isolated downpours forecasted for Bahawalpur, Multan, and Dera Ghazi Khan, particularly during the evening and night of August 10 and continuing into August 11. These areas could experience occasional gaps in rainfall, but the overall intensity of the showers could still pose risks, especially in low-lying regions.
The monsoon rains are not expected to spare the country’s northern and western regions either. Parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are also likely to experience rain and thundershowers over the next few days. The PMD’s forecast underscores the widespread nature of this weather system, which could lead to disruptions across various provinces.
This year’s monsoon season has been marked by heightened activity, with the PMD earlier predicting a wetter-than-usual season for Pakistan. The country, which is already considered highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, has been grappling with increasingly extreme weather patterns. Earlier in the year, Pakistan endured a series of intense heatwaves, followed by an unusually wet April, the wettest recorded since 1961.
The ongoing monsoon season has already taken a toll on the country, with recent reports indicating that 24 people have lost their lives due to rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past three days. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has been actively involved in relief efforts, but the challenges posed by the current and upcoming weather conditions remain significant.
As Pakistan braces for the anticipated rainfall, authorities are urging citizens to take necessary precautions, particularly in flood-prone areas. The government has also been advised to stay prepared for potential emergencies, ensuring that resources and relief measures are readily available to mitigate the impact of these severe weather events.
The PMD continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as the weather system progresses. In the meantime, the nation remains on high alert, with hopes that the coming days will pass without further loss of life or property.
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