KARACHI – A new westerly-wave weather system that entered Pakistan on Thursday and would remain until Monday could cause widespread rains and gusty winds, said Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Sindh Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz on Friday.
Riaz said that this system could be harmful for the standing wheat crops and would also reduce the snow-melting rate in the northern areas.
“Late Thursday night, a weather system of moderate intensity entered Balochistan, causing light rains in some parts of the country and more rains, light and heavy, are expected until Monday in different parts of the country,” he added.
Under the influence of this weather system, scattered rains are expected over Balochistan on Saturday, whereas rains along with thundershowers and gusty winds are likely on Saturday and Sunday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, he said.
“This weather system may remain in the upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir until Monday. However, isolated rain showers are also expected over upper Sindh on Saturday,” he added.
He also mentioned the possibility of hailstorms and dust storms in the sub-mountainous areas of the country.
“Due to rains in the northern areas, the mercury level could plunge, and it’s possible that the rate at which snow usually melts in the region also reduces. However, due to heavy rains in the plane area, rainwater could possibly be stored in some areas with natural depressions,” Riaz said.
In Sindh, the wheat crop is ready to be harvested and widespread rains in some upper parts could harm the standing wheat crops, he added.
He suggested the farmers to take precautionary measures accordingly during this spell.
