Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms Expected Across Northern Pakistan; Flash Flood and Landslide Alerts Issued

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast **heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds** in various parts of the country including **Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northeastern Balochistan**. The department has also warned of **flash floods in local streams and nullahs** due to intense rainfall.

According to PMD, over the past 24 hours, heavy showers with thunder and strong winds were recorded in **Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, KP, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan**. The highest rainfall was observed in **Attock (133 mm)** and **Lahore (104 mm)**. Other parts of the country remained hot and humid, with temperatures peaking at **46°C in Dalbandin, 45°C in Nokundi, and 43°C in Dadu**.

For **Thursday (July 24)**, the Met Office predicts more heavy rain with thunder and wind in:

* **Upper KP** (including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, and surrounding areas)
* **Pothohar region**, **northeastern Punjab**, and **Kashmir**
* **Islamabad and Rawalpindi**
* **Gilgit-Baltistan**
* **Northeastern Balochistan**

These weather patterns are likely to cause **flash floods** in rain-fed streams and nullahs, especially in Chitral, Swat, Dir, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi, DG Khan, and parts of northeastern Balochistan.

The department also warned of **urban flooding** in low-lying areas of **Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Peshawar**. There is a significant risk of **landslides in hilly regions** such as KP, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, and GB.

Citizens have been advised to stay alert as strong winds, lightning, and heavy downpours may disrupt daily life and damage vulnerable infrastructure including **mud houses, power lines, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels**.

**Cities likely to be affected include:**

* In KP: Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Bajaur, Kohat, D.I. Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, and surrounding areas
* In Punjab: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Chakwal, Sargodha, Gujrat, Jhelum, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Kasur, and more
* In Balochistan: Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Barkhan, and northeastern districts

The PMD urges authorities and the public to take necessary precautions, especially in flood-prone and mountainous regions.