Weather today: Heavy rainfall, cyclone threat looms large

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meterolgical Deparmtentr (PMD) warned of unusual weather, with heavy rainfall and even the threat of potential cyclone looming over Pakistan on Friday (today).

According to the Met Office, a deep depression over the Rann of Kutch in India intensified into a potential cyclonic storm. Located almost 270 kilometers south-east of Karachi, the weather pattern might escalate in next 24 hours.

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The Met Office forecasted widespread rain and even thunderstorms across Pakistan, with the most affected areas including Tharparkar, Badin Thatta, Sajawal, Hyderabad and Karachi.

The PMD warned that the current weather is expected to continue well into Saturday.

From Friday (today) till Saturday (tomorrow), heavy showers of rain are expected to flood low-lying regions across Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab. Flooding is also possible in hilly regions of Dera Ghazi Khan and local streams in Karachi, Hyderabad and several districts of Balochistan.

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Meanwhile, residents in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad, Rawalpindi were warned of urban flooding.

There is also a huge chance of heavy rains triggering landslides in Murree, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The wind-rainstorm activity is expected to intensify not only in Sindh and Balocshitan but also extend to Punjab, the capital and KP, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Kashmir.

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Authorities shut down schools across Sindh including Karachi due to the threat of cyclone and relentless rainfall.

Karachi is expected to receive rainfall between 150 mililitre (mm) to 200 mm over the next three days. There is also a Cyclone Asna ramming on Karachi shores.

Heavy rainwall led to water stagnating on all major roads in Karachi, causing a nuisance for the residents of the 20-million-strong city.

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Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.