Northwestern parts of the country and upper Punjab experienced massive thunderstorms with huge loss of life yesterday, as Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast more downpours within the next two days.
According to PMD, fresh shallow westerly weather system is likely to enter upper parts of the country on Wednesday and likely to persist till Thursday.
As par a statement issued by the PMD, the system will cause rain-thunderstorm at a few places in Kashmir and its adjoining hilly areas on Wednesday evening/night.
However, mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country.
During next 48 hours, the PMD said, rain coupled with gusty winds is expected at scattered places in upper KP (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat divisions), upper FATA, Islamabad, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha divisions),Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Bannu, D.I.Khan, Gujranwala and Lahore
Weather is unstable in Pakistan, and two more weather systems are expected to approach upper parts of the country in next 10 days, according to PMD.
Scattered rain with dust-thunderstorm is expected in upper KP (Peshawar, Malakand, Mardan and Hazara divisions), North Punjab (Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Sargodha division) and Kashmir during mid of the current week and again during first week of May.
Tornado in Peshawar
A mini Tornado (twister) hit Peshawar valley with a speed of 110 km/hr and reported rainfall of 60 mm on Sunday evening, causing huge damages.
PMD said it was very unusual extreme weather event that rarely occurs in Pakistan.
“According to the climate of Pakistan, such types of extreme weather events rarely develop due to thermal contrast during the months of March or April (a transition period, when days are getting hot and nights are still cold) due to interaction of cold air mass (from westward) and warm air (from east or south),” PMD said.
PMD said rain with the dust-thunderstorm, that hit Peshawar and other cities, was predicted two days before (on Friday and Saturday) “but the prediction of tornado or twister is not possible in the world, even today’s advancement in radar and satellite technologies.”
Rainfall: Parachinar 40, Islamabad, 34, Rawalpindi 25, Kotli 24, Murree 16, Peshawar (Airport 16, City 10), Cherat, Rawalakot 14, Garhidupatta 10, Muzaffarabad, Kakul 05, Astore 03, Bunji, Balakot, Kalam, Gilgit 02.
Hottest places last 24 hrs: Jacobabad 46°C, Dadu, Sukkur, Larkana, SH.Benazirbad, Rohri, Padidan,Moen jo daro 45°C, Lasbella, Sibbi 44°C
