The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Monday that rain and thunderstorms are expected in the upper parts of the country from April 16 to 19.
In its press release, the PMD stated that a westerly weather system is likely to enter the northwestern regions on April 16 and is expected to persist in the upper areas until April 19.
Under the influence of this system, rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls are forecast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
In KP, rain-windstorm/thunderstorm with isolated heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and snowfall over mountainous areas is 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.
The PMD added that light rain and thunderstorms are also likely at isolated locations in Orakzai, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan on April 17 and 18. In Gilgit-Baltistan, rain-wind/thunderstorms with moderate to isolated heavy falls and snowfall over mountains are expected in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, and Shigar during the same period, with breaks in between.
For Azad Jammu and Kashmir, rain-windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms are forecast in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from April 17 to 19, also with occasional gaps.
Moderate to heavy rainfall is particularly expected on April 18 and 19.The PMD further stated that rain-windstorms and thunderstorms are expected in parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Harnai, Zhob, and Barkhan on April 17 and 18.
In Punjab and surrounding areas, including Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Narowal, rain-windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hailstorms are expected from April 16 to 18.
During the same period, windstorms and thunderstorms may also occur in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Multan, and Khanewal.Meanwhile, upper parts of Sindh are likely to experience windstorms or dust-raising winds between April 16 and 18.
The PMD has warned of possible impacts from the weather system, including landslides in vulnerable areas of upper KP, GB, and AJK from April 17 to 19.It also cautioned that heavy rainfall may trigger flash floods in susceptible areas of upper KP, including Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, and Chitral, as well as in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, particularly Neelum Valley.
Additionally, hailstorms, windstorms, and lightning may damage weak structures such as electricity poles, billboards, and solar panels.The department warned that standing crops in KP and upper Punjab could also be affected by hailstorms and strong winds, advising farmers to take necessary precautions according to the forecast.
Tourists have been urged to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period.Separately, temperatures have risen sharply across Sindh, with Shaheed Benazirabad and Mithi recording a high of 43.5°C.Sakrand and Tandojam recorded temperatures of 42°C, followed by Dadu at 41.5°C and Chhor at 41°C.
Other areas, including Larkana, Mohenjo Daro, Sukkur, Khairpur, Hyderabad Airport, Rohri, and Padidan, reported temperatures ranging between 40°C and 40.5°C.In Karachi, the temperature reached 36.1°C at Jinnah Terminal, while Sharea Faisal recorded 35.5°C and Mauripur registered 32.5°C.
Karachi Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder stated that a spell of unusually high temperatures and humidity is expected to persist for at least two or more days, noting that conditions will be significantly warmer than the historical average for the region.