PMD Intensifies Flood Monitoring Nationwide: DG PMD

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Mahr Sahibzad Khan, said Thursday that the department was monitoring the rainfall and flood situation round the clock through its observatories across the country and sharing timely information with all relevant stakeholders to enable precautionary measures.

Speaking at a press conference alongside senior PMD officials, he said the department was using its 116 observatories to closely assess weather conditions and promptly alert stakeholders about any unusual developments.

He said Pakistan had received 0.8 percent above-normal rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season, which is expected to continue until mid-September.

Punjab has recorded 59 percent above-normal rainfall, while rainfall in other regions remained below or closer to normal levels, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa recording 1 percent, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 18 percent, Balochistan 28 percent, Sindh 62 percent and Gilgit-Baltistan 63 percent above normal.

The DG said monsoon activity was likely to intensify in the coming days, particularly in the upper and central parts of the country.

Although water levels in rivers were rising due to frequent rainfall, he said, there was no alarming situation at present. He added that the PMD was issuing comprehensive weather advisories to relevant authorities and stakeholders so that timely preventive measures could be taken.

Sahibzad Khan said the department was also issuing separate weather advisories for tourists and farmers to help them make informed decisions based on prevailing and expected weather conditions.

He said lightning detectors were also being used to collect data on lightning activity across the country, which could help in monitoring thunderstorms and associated rainfall.

Highlighting the department’s forecasting capabilities, the DG said the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) had acknowledged PMD’s timely and accurate forecasts related to the 2022 floods.

Regarding the seasonal outlook, he said above-normal rainfall was expected in most parts of the country, particularly northeastern Punjab and lower Sindh.

Daytime maximum temperatures were expected to remain near normal across most parts of the country, he added.

He said that from July to September, above-normal rainfall was expected in most areas, with the largest positive departure likely over upper Punjab and lower Sindh.

Northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan were expected to receive near-normal rainfall, while most parts of Balochistan could also experience above-normal rainfall during the season.