Beginning on July 5, monsoon rains are predicted to get heavier throughout Pakistan.

On Wednesday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted that the monsoon season would significantly intensify nationwide starting on Saturday, July 5, with thunderstorms, widespread rain, and the potential for flash floods and urban flooding in a number of areas.

The Met Office reported that moist monsoon currents were still sweeping across the nation and were expected to get stronger over the weekend. On July 6, a westerly wave was also predicted to move into Pakistan’s higher regions, intensifying the rainfall.

Rain and thunderstorms with sporadic heavy to very heavy rainfall are anticipated from July 5–10 in a number of locations, including Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Swat, Dir, Malakand, Kohistan, Chitral, and others, according to the regional forecast highlights.

Similar circumstances may also occur in Gilgit-Baltistan areas such as Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, and Astore between July 6 and July 10.

From July 5–10, several districts in Punjab and Islamabad, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad, are expected to experience widespread rain and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall. Rainfall is expected in the southern Punjab regions of Multan, Bahawalpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan from July 6–8.

Regarding Sindh and Balochistan, the PMD predicts that from July 3–4 and again from July 6–8, rain and thunderstorms are likely in southern and northeastern Balochistan, including Loralai, Khuzdar, and Lasbella.

During July 3–4, Sindh regions like Karachi, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, and Sukkur might see moderate rainfall, with the possibility of isolated, heavy downpours in the southeast.

As per possible impacts and public advisory, heavy to very heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams of Murree, Galliyat, Manshera, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast Punjab, Kashmir, and parts of Balochistan from the night of July 05-08.

Heavy downpours may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar from July 6-8.

During the rainy season, roads in vulnerable hilly regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan may be closed due to mudslides and landslides.

During the forecast period, weak structures like electric poles, billboards, vehicles, solar panels, and the roofs and walls of mud houses may sustain damage from heavy rainfall, strong winds, and lightning.

To reduce any possible risks, all relevant authorities have been urged to maintain a high level of awareness and take preventative action.