Islamabad, The National Weather Forecasting Centre in Islamabad has predicted a series of rain and thunderstorms across Pakistan from April 10 to April 15, citing the approach of a westerly wave affecting the upper parts of the country followed by a stronger wave impacting most areas. The weather system is expected to bring varied weather patterns, including isolated heavy rainfall and hailstorms in several regions.

According to National Weather Forecasting Centre – Islamabad, the initial westerly wave is set to enter the country on April 10, with a subsequent, stronger wave intensifying the weather conditions from April 13 to April 15. Regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, such as Chitral, Dir, and Swat, among others, are forecasted to experience rain-windstorm/thunderstorms with occasional gaps. Similarly, parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir are expected to witness rain and thunderstorms, with snowfall over high mountains, during the same period.

Punjab, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, will see rain-wind/thunderstorms primarily from April 12 to April 15, with occasional gaps. Balochistan is set to experience rain-wind/thunderstorms from April 12 to April 14, while certain areas in Sindh, including Sukkur and Jacobabad, will have rain and thunderstorms on April 13 and April 14. Karachi and Hyderabad may also face isolated rain-wind/thunderstorms during this period.

The forecasted weather conditions may lead to potential impacts such as flash flooding in local nullahs/streams, the possibility of landslides in vulnerable areas, and damage to standing crops, loose structures, and electric poles due to windstorm/hailstorm and lightning. The National Weather Forecasting Centre advises farmers, especially in wheat-harvested areas, to manage their crops the weather predictions and cautions tourists against unnecessary travel during this wet spell. A noticeable drop in temperatures is also anticipated during this period.