PMD predicts wet weekend, warns of urban flooding risks

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RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday predicted a wet weekend across the country, saying rain would start from Saturday (today) and continue until Sept 17 in most parts of the country.

It also warned that low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Gujran­w­ala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Fai­salabad and Lahore might experience urban flooding from Sept 14 to 17.

“Monsoon currents are penetrating upper parts of the country,” the Met Office said in its forecast, adding that a westerly wave was likely to enter the upper parts of the country during the weekend and strengthen on Sept 14.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, rain, wind and thundershowers are expected, with isolated hailstorms and heavy showers in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Raw­ala­kot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from Saturday to Sept 17, with occasional gaps.

Rain, wind and thundershowers are also expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang and Attock during the same period, with occasional gaps, the forecast said.

Similar weather conditions are expected in Lahore, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Hafizabad, Kasur, Okara, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Layyah, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and surrounding areas from Saturday evening until Sept 17, with occasional gaps.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Met Office predicted rainfall in Peshawar, Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan, Bannu and Waziristan from Saturday to Sept 17, with occasional gaps.

Rain, wind and thundershowers with isolated heavy rainfall are also expected in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar during this period.

Meanwhile, mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of Sindh, but rain, wind and thunderstorms with isolated heavy rainfall are expected in Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Thatta, Badin, Karachi and surrounding areas from the evening of Sept 13 to Sept 16, with occasional gaps.

According to the Met Office, there are chances of thunderstorms and light rain in Karachi from Sept 14 to 16.

Mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of Balochistan during the forecast period. However, the PMD said rainfall was expected in Zhob, Barkhan, Musakhel and surrounding areas from Sept 13 to Sept 16, with occasional gaps.

Urban flooding

In its advisory, the weather agency warned that heavy rains could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Lahore from Sept 14 to 17.

It further warned of flash floods in local streams and nullahs in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the forecast period.

Landslides could also occur in the hilly areas of KP, GB, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir during the forecast period, the advisory said.

The weather department said temperatures were likely to drop during the forecast period.

It advised tourists and travellers to remain cautious and urged farmers to plan their crop activities according to the weather conditions.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2026

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