Weather alert: Heavy rains, flood Risks, and landslides expected

ISLAMABAD: Weather across Pakistan will remain unsettled, with heavy rainfall expected across most regions of the country on Tuesday (today).

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of heavy rainfalls causing significant damage in several regions across Pakistan. The forecast suggests increased flow in local water inlets, including streams and local drainage system.

In particular, residents throughout Murree, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and northeast Punjab were warned of flooding and possible landslides.

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Urban areas in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar are likely to experience urban flooding on Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

The forecast also indicates that heavy showers could overwhelm drainage systems, causing localised flooding in these low-lying regions.

The heavy rains are also expected to trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The landslides could disrupt road traffic and lead to hazardous conditions.

Similarly, moderate rains are likely to generate landslides at vulnerable points and increase water level in local water inlets and drainage systems of Dera Ghazi Khan, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, and Barkhan on Wednesday and even Thursday.

Rain, wind, and thundershowers are predicted across various parts of the country, including Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, northeast and southern Balochistan, and upper and southeastern Sindh.

Isolated heavy falls may occur in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pothohar region, and central Punjab.

On Tuesday, rain, wind, and thundershowers are expected in Islamabad and surrounding areas, with isolated heavy falls possible in the morning.

In Punjab, rain and thundershowers are likely to affect cities including Murree, the Pothohar region, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sahiwal and Pakpattan.

Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Multan, Khanewal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Khanpur, Kot Addu, and Rahimyar Khan are also expected to receive heavy rainfall.

In Sindh, most districts are expected to remain hot and dry, but rain, wind, and thundershowers may occur in Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Dadu, Karachi, Thatta, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, and surrounding areas.

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The northern regions, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Buner, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Kark, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Waziristan, and Dera Ismail Khan, are likely to see rain and thunderstorms. Heavy falls may occur in the upper districts.

Meanwhile in GB and Kashmir, cloudy weather accompanied by rain, wind, and thundershowers is expected throughout the day.