Karachi is gearing up for a spell of rainfall this week as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a comprehensive weather forecast predicting widespread precipitation across the country. The forecast highlights the arrival of a western weather system that will bring wet weather, accompanied by strong winds, thunder, and lightning, impacting numerous areas from March 24 through March 30.
The PMD announced on Monday that this western disturbance is expected to first enter parts of Balochistan on March 24, gradually intensifying by the night of March 27. This system will trigger intermittent rain showers and thunderstorms in several districts of Balochistan, including Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Gwadar, Pasni, Marwar, and others such as Lasbela, Khuzdar, Chagai, Dalbandin, Kalat, Sibi, Kohlu, Quetta, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Qalat, and Mastung. These areas should prepare for potentially heavy downpours and gusty winds over the coming days.
Meanwhile, in Sindh province, Karachi and Hyderabad are expected to witness rainfall on multiple days including March 25, 26, 28, and 29. Other districts such as Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Larkana, and again Kashmore are also forecasted to receive showers. It is worth noting that Karachi had already experienced intense rain accompanied by thunder and lightning on the first day of Eid ul Fitr, which led to significant waterlogging in low-lying neighborhoods and caused disruption to traffic due to flooded roads and potholes. Earlier this month, a severe thunderstorm with gale-force winds tragically claimed the lives of at least 19 people in the port city, underscoring the vulnerability of the area to such weather events.
In a related development, the PMD’s latest outlook also indicates that northern and northwestern regions of Pakistan will be affected by this weather system. Areas including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Malakand, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Kurram, Sawabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, and Dera Ismail Khan are expected to see rainfall during this period. This widespread precipitation is likely to bring relief to some drought-affected zones but may also pose challenges such as localized flooding and travel disruptions.
Punjab province is not exempt from this weather pattern, with showers anticipated in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Virkan, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Pakpattan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Multan, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, and Rahim Yar Khan between March 25 and 30. Furthermore, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are also forecasted to receive rainfall during this timeframe, which could impact local agriculture and water reservoirs positively.
As the country prepares for this period of unsettled weather, authorities and residents alike are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions. The PMD continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as the system progresses. Meanwhile, emergency services and municipal bodies in urban centers such as Karachi are expected to remain on high alert to manage potential flooding and infrastructure challenges caused by the anticipated rainfall.
