Pakistan is expected to experience a widespread spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms starting from Sunday night, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The weather system, driven by a strong western disturbance, will first affect Balochistan before extending to upper regions and continuing until April 9.
The Met Office has forecast rain-windstorms, thunderstorms, and isolated heavy falls with possible hailstorms across multiple provinces, including Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In Balochistan, cities such as Quetta, Chaman, Khuzdar, and Zhob are likely to receive significant rainfall from Sunday night through April 7, while coastal areas including Gwadar may see showers on April 6.
Sindh, including Karachi, is expected to receive light to moderate rainfall with chances of thunderstorms on Monday. Areas like Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, and Thatta may also experience scattered heavy showers. In Punjab, widespread rain and thunderstorms are predicted from April 6 to April 9, affecting Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and surrounding districts. Heavy downpours and hailstorms are particularly likely in the Pothohar region during April 7 and 8.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also see widespread rainfall with snowfall expected over mountainous regions such as Chitral, Swat, and Kohistan. Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir are forecast to experience moderate to heavy rain with snowfall in higher altitudes throughout the period.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued warnings for possible flash floods in northeastern Balochistan, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Kashmir. Urban flooding is also expected in major cities including Peshawar, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. Landslides may occur in vulnerable northern areas due to continuous rainfall.
Authorities have cautioned that strong winds, lightning, and hailstorms could damage infrastructure, including electricity poles and solar panels, as well as standing crops in agricultural areas. Farmers are advised to take preventive measures to minimize losses.
The Met Office has urged citizens, tourists, and travelers to avoid unnecessary movement during the forecast period and remain updated on weather conditions, as temperatures are also expected to drop.
