Isolated Thunderstorms, Hailstorm Forecast for Several Regions: PMD

News Desk 

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted mainly hot and dry weather for most parts of the country on Saturday, but isolated rain-wind/thunderstorms with chances of hailstorm are expected in several regions.

According to the PMD, areas likely to receive thunderstorms include parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, northeastern and southern Balochistan, southeastern Sindh, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Some areas may also experience heavy rainfall and hailstorms.

A weather warning issued by the department cautioned that wind, dust storms, hailstorms, and lightning could damage vulnerable infrastructure—such as electric poles, trees, vehicles, and solar panels—from Saturday evening through May 12.

In the federal capital Islamabad, mainly dry weather is expected, with partly cloudy skies and a 30 percent chance of afternoon rain-wind/thunderstorms.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind/thunderstorms are expected in districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Bajaur, Khyber, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Kohat, Hangu, Waziristan, and Kurram. Some areas may witness intense rainfall or hail.

Punjab will remain largely hot and dry, although isolated rain-wind/thunderstorms may affect Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Similar hot and dry conditions will prevail across most of Sindh, except for possible thunderstorms in Jamshoro, Dadu, Hyderabad, Umerkot, Islamkot, Mithi, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, and Khairpur.

In Balochistan, thunderstorms are forecast in Barkhan, Kohlu, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Musakhel, Khuzdar, Kalat, Kharan, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, and Panjgur. Some areas may also experience heavy rainfall and hail.

Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to witness partly cloudy weather with isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon or evening.

Over the past 24 hours, rain-wind/thunderstorms were recorded in isolated parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, southeastern Sindh, Kashmir, and northeastern and southern Balochistan.

Notable rainfall (in mm) included:

Sindh: Chhor 35, Mithi 06, Badin 04, Sukkur 03

KP: DI Khan (Airport 23, City 13), Saidu Sharif 19, Malam Jabba 13, Kakul 11, Pattan 09, Kalam 08, Dir 06, Peshawar, Mardan 03

Punjab: Bhakkar, Layyah 21, Kot Addu 14, D.G. Khan 12, Murree 11, Multan 09, Rawalpindi 08, Faisalabad 07, Jhang 06

Balochistan: Barkhan 18, Khuzdar 06

Kashmir: Muzaffarabad 30, Rawalakot 15

Gilgit-Baltistan: Gupis 10, Bagrote 03

The highest temperatures recorded were 41°C in Jacobabad, Sakrand, and Nokundi, while Turbat and Mohenjodaro registered 40°C.

The PMD urged the public to take precautionary measures in areas prone to severe weather and to stay informed through official weather updates.