PMD warns of possible landslides, flash floods
Rainfall predicted in upper parts of country from April 16 to 19
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday said that the upper parts of the country were expected to receive rain and thunderstorms from April 16 to 19.
In a press release, the PMD said a westerly wave was likely to approach the country’s northwestern parts on April 16 (Thursday) and likely to persist in the upper parts till April 19 (Sunday).
Under the influence of the weather system, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls were likely in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
In KP, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls/hailstorm (snowfall over mountains) was expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Khyber and Hangu from the evening of April 16 to April 19 with occasional gaps.
“Light rain wind/thunderstorm is likely at isolated places in Orakzai, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan on April 17 and 18,” the PMD added.
In GB, “rain-wind/thunderstorm with moderate to isolated heavy falls (snowfall over the mountains)” was forecasted in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche and Shigar during this period with occasional gaps.
windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm” in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from April 17 to 19 with occasional gaps.
Moderate to isolated heavy falls were expected on April 18 and 19, the Met Office added.
According to PMD, “rain-windstorm/thunderstorm” was expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Harnai, Zhob, Barkhan and Loralai on April 17 and 18.
It further said “rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated hailstorm” was expected in Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal from April 16 to 18.
During the same period, “windstorm/thunderstorm may occur in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Multan and Khanewal”, the PMD said.
Meanwhile, the upper parts of Sindh were expected to see windstorms or “dust-raising winds” from April 16 to 18, according to the Met Office.
Listing the possible impacts, the PMD warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper KP, GB and AJK from April 17 (Friday) to April 19 (Sunday).
Due to heavy rains, flash floods were expected in vulnerable areas of upper KP (Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Batgram, Chitral), GB and Kashmir (Neelum Valley), the PMD stated. Staff Report
