Amid urban flooding fears, Met Office forecast rainfall

Islamabad : The Met office has forecast more rainfall early next week, saying strong monsoon currents are likely to penetrate from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in upper parts of the country from July 21.

Under the influence of this weather system, there will be rain along with wind and thunderstorms with few heavy rainfall in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's areas, including Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur, from July 21 evening to July 27 with occasional gaps. Also, it will rain in Islamabad and Punjab's Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Tala Gang, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Pakpattan, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar and Mianwali areas from 22nd to 25th July with occasional gaps.

Rain-wind/thund­ershower is expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rajanpur, Rahimyar Khan and Layyah on 23rd and 24th July. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it will rain in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan from 22nd (evening) to 24th July with occasional gaps, while in

Balochistan, mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most districts of the province. However, rain-wind and thundershower is expected in north/eastern parts of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbella, Awaran, Ziarat, Zhob, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Shirani, Kohlu, Harnai, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad on 23rd and 24th July. with occasional gaps.

In Sindh, mainly hot and very humid weather is expected in most districts of the province. Rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Mithi, Sanghar, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Larkana and Dadu on July 23 and 24 with occasional gaps.

As for Gilgit-Baltistan, it will be mainly partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions. However, rainfall activity is also expected in Diamir, Astore, Skardu, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar in the July 22-27 period with occasional gaps.The Met Office warned that Heavyfalls could generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams of Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Malakand, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Bunner, Kurrum, Orakzai, Khyber, Mohmand, Nowshera, Swabi, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on July 23 and 24.

According to it, heavy rainfall may cause urban flooding

in low-lying areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on July 23 and 24.

"Landslides may disrupt roads at the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the wet period. Also, heavy downpour and windstorm and lightning may affect daily routines, weak structures like roof and wall collapse of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels etc during the period." The Met Office urged farmers to manage their activities during the period. It said travelers and tourists should remain extra cautious and manage their travelling according to weather conditions and avoid any untoward situation during the wet spell. The Met Office asked authorities to remain alert and take necessary measures to prevent any untoward situation.