• Hail and windstorms may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh
• Heavy rain and snowfall over hills expected in KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir

RAWALPINDI: Two more spells of rain are expected in various parts of the country before and after Eidul Fitr as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that hailstorms and windstorm may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.

The department has asked the concerned authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation during the forecast period.

According to a weather advisory issued by PMD, rain, wind and thunderstorm are predicted in the country from the evening or night of March 17 to 20. It said partly cloudy to cloudy weather is expected in the upper parts of the country, while rain and thunderstorm are also likely in Balochistan and adjoining areas during the Eid days.

The Met Office predicted that another westerly wave is likely to approach the western parts of the country on the evening or night of March 17. It is expected to grip most parts of the country on March 18 and may persist until March 20.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain, wind and thunderstorms with a few heavy falls (and isolated hailstorm) are expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chagai, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur and Awaran from the evening or night of March 17 to the morning of March 20, with occasional gaps.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Rain, wind, and thunderstorm with a few heavy falls (and snowfall over the hills) are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, Bajaur, and other parts from the evening or morning of March 17 to March 20. Hailstorms are also likely at isolated places during the period.

Punjab: Rain, wind and thunderstorm (with isolated hailstorms) are expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Kasur and other parts from the night of March 17 to the morning of March 20.

GB and Kashmir: Rain, wind, and thunderstorms (with snowfall over the hills) are expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar, and in Kashmir including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from the evening or night of March 17 to March 20. Heavy falls and hailstorms are also likely at isolated places in Kashmir during this period.

Sindh: Rain, wind and thunderstorms (with isolated hailstorms) are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Naushero Feroze, Kashmore, Larkana, Sanghar, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, and other parts on March 18 and March 19.

The Met Office warned that the landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper KP, GB and Kashmir during this period.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2026