The Met Office has predicted a week of rain and thunderstorms across Pakistan, starting from April 24, 2024. The weather system is expected to affect the country’s major cities, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, as well as the provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Sindh.

A westerly wave is set to enter the western parts of Pakistan on April 24, 2024, and is expected to cover most of the country’s upper regions by April 26. The weather system is expected to bring rain-wind/thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing moderate to heavy falls.

In Punjab, the cities of Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Pakpattan, and Sahiwal are expected to receive rain-wind/thunderstorms from April 26 to 29. Hailstorms are also expected in isolated areas during this period. In Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad, Khanpur, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalnagar, rain-wind/thunderstorms are expected with occasional gaps from April 26 to 28.

In Balochistan, rain-wind/thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls are expected in Nushki, Pishin, Harnai, Zhob, Barkhan, Gwadar, Kech, Awaran, Chaghi, Kharan, Kalat, Mastung, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Sibbi, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Quetta, Ziarat, Shirani, and Musakhel from April 24 (night) to 27.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind/thunderstorms with snowfall over high mountains are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Waziristan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Karak, Khyber, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, and Kurram with occasional gaps from April 25 (evening/night) to 29.

In Gilgit-Baltistan/Kashmir, rain-wind/thunderstorms with snowfall over high mountains are expected in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur with occasional gaps from April 26 to 29.

In Sindh, dust-thunderstorm/light rain is expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Qambar Shahdad Kot, Jamshoro, and Sanghar on April 25 and 26. The Met Office has warned that isolated/moderate to heavy rainfall may generate flash floods in nullahs/streams of Balochistan, especially Nushki, Pishin, Harnai, Zhob, Barkhan, Gwadar, Kech, and Awaran on April 26 and 27, and in Dir, Swat, Chitral, Mansehra, Kohistan, and Kashmir on April 27 and 28.

Landslides in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan may affect vulnerable locations from April 27 to 29. Farmers, especially in wheat-harvested areas, have been advised to manage their crops keeping in view the weather conditions. Tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary traveling, particularly from April 26 to 29. Temperatures are likely to drop during the wet spell.