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A new westerly wind system is set to sweep across Pakistan starting today (Wednesday), heralding the arrival of widespread rains in various parts of the country. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a forecast detailing the areas likely to be affected, with effects expected to last until the end of the month.
Forecast Highlights:
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and more are expected to receive rain with occasional breaks from March 27 to 31. Intense rain and hailstorms are possible from March 29 onwards.
- Punjab: Areas including Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Faisalabad, and more will also see rainfall from Wednesday.
- Sindh: Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, and Dadu are expected to receive rain on March 28 and 29. Southern parts of the province may experience dust storms but no rain.
- Balochistan: Regions such as Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Quetta, Chaman, Kalat, and Khuzdar are predicted to receive rains starting Wednesday, with showers expected to end earlier in the province on March 29.
Potential Impacts:
- The Met Office has warned of possible landslides in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan due to the heavy rains.
- Standing crops and ‘loose structures’ such as electricity poles and solar panels are at risk of damage from the rains and accompanying storms.
Residents in these areas are advised to take precautionary measures, and travelers are urged to exercise caution on the roads due to potentially hazardous conditions. Stay tuned for further updates as this weather system progresses across the country.
