PMD Warns of Intense Monsoon Rains in Pakistan This Year

Pakistan, identified as the eighth most vulnerable nation to climate change, is anticipated to receive extraordinary monsoon rains from June to August, according to a recent advisory from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

As parts of Pakistan endure heatwave conditions, the Met Office forecasts that Punjab, KP, and Balochistan will experience moderate monsoon rains starting next month. While this may offer respite from the intense heat, it also raises concerns about potential flash floods due to excessive rainfall.

Read more: Rain and Thunderstorms Expected in Parts of the Country

The PMD’s outlook indicates normal to above-normal rainfall in most areas this year, with central and northern Punjab expecting particularly heavy rains. Southern Sindh might see torrential rains, and Balochistan is at risk of unusually heavy rainfall. In contrast, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to receive average rainfall.

Heavier rainfall is predicted during the first phase of the monsoon compared to the second phase. On May 27, the PMD forecasted that Punjab and the upper parts of the country would likely receive rain during the ongoing week, potentially breaking the heatwave affecting much of the nation.

With temperatures soaring above 40°C in various cities, the PMD mentioned the possibility of isolated wet spells in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and several cities in Punjab. The Met Office noted that a shallow westerly wave was expected to affect the upper parts of the country on the evening or night of May 28.

Rainfall in these regions could alleviate severe heatwave conditions in the upper parts, but the intense heat is predicted to persist in the central and southern parts of the country, including Punjab and Sindh, where temperatures are expected to remain 3°C to 4°C above normal.