By Muhammad Luqman
The much-awaited monsoon rains lashed most of the upper parts of Pakistan on Saturday , providing relief to heat-stricken people. However, muggy weather returned to most of the areas soon after the rains.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the first spell of the Monsoon season will continue till Tuesday.
The rainy spell is expected to become more intense in Pakistan’s southern half from Monday, resulting in urban flooding in the port city of Karachi and other lower Sindh towns.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast that the country would receive 10 per cent more rain than normal during the monsoon season this year.
According to an advisory issued by the department for a period from July to September 2020, Sindh and Azad Jammu and Kashmir may receive 20 per cent more downpour than normal. Similar sort of warnings and messages were sent to the provincial governments last year before the start of the monsoon season.
The department has also predicted that flood may occur in eastern rivers during the monsoon season. It also forecast urban flooding in metropolitan cities whereas flash flooding is expected in mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa , Kashmir , Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab.
Monsoon likely to enter in active phase from coming Friday/Saturday
Met Office informed that moderate monsoon currents are likely to penetrate in upper & central parts of the country from Friday (evening/night) and will strengthen on Saturday. #Weather #Monsoon2020 pic.twitter.com/tSkSplJlPJ
— Pak Met Department (@pmdgov) July 1, 2020
Meteorologists have warned of speedy breeding of locusts that have swarmed over the country, posing serious threat to the food security .
The dust storm and strong winds that preceded the rains resulted in the uprooting of trees in Lahore, Gujranwala, Daska, Hafizabad, Faisalabad and Sukekhi. Heavy rains lashed Sargodha, Bhalwal, Khushab, Joharabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Shorkot and Sangla Hill.
