ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted widespread rains and thunderstorms across the country from Tuesday night to Saturday.
Scattered heavy to very heavy falls are expected in Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore divisions, and Islamabad and Kashmir on Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the Met Office, another monsoon low pressure had developed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and its adjoining areas, which was likely to move westward and reach Rajasthan in India on Thursday.
Strong monsoon currents from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea were expected to penetrate northern parts of the country from Tuesday evening and is likely to intensify from Wednesday. A strong westerly wave was also likely to interact with monsoon currents on Wednesday, the Met Office said.
Under the influence of the weather system, widespread rains/thunderstorms were expected in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha and Faisalabad divisions), Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from Tuesday evening to Saturday, it added.
Scattered rains/thunderstorms of moderate intensity with isolated heavy falls are expected in Mirpurkhas and Thatta divisions while light/moderate rain is also expected in Hyderabad and Karachi divisions on Thursday and Friday.
The Met Office predicted heavy falls might generate flash flooding in Hazara, Malakand, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and D G Khan divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir while urban flooding might take place in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions on Wednesday and Thursday.
It also did not rule out the possibility of landslides in Malakand, Hazara divisions, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir during the period.
The Met Office advised all the authorities concerned to remain alert and take precautionary measures during the forecast period.
