PMD Issues Nationwide Weather Alert as Heavy Rain, Hailstorms and Thunderstorms Expected Across Pakistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a nationwide weather advisory warning of dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds expected to affect multiple regions of the country in the coming days.

In its statement released on Friday, the PMD said a fresh westerly weather system is expected to enter the northwestern parts of Pakistan on the evening of May 2 and continue affecting upper regions until the morning of May 5.

The department stated, “Widespread dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds are expected to batter upper and central Pakistan during the period,” adding that the ongoing intense heatwave is likely to ease as the system progresses.

According to the advisory, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to experience the most severe impact, with multiple districts likely to face dust storms, heavy showers, and hailstorms between May 2 and May 4.

Punjab and Islamabad are also forecast to experience similar conditions, including thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms in major cities such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Sialkot.

Northern areas including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir are expected to receive prolonged rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms, with some regions facing heavy rainfall and hail activity until May 5.

Balochistan and upper Sindh will also be affected, with dust storms and thunderstorms likely during the same period.

The PMD has also warned of possible landslides in vulnerable mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir due to continuous rainfall and unstable ground conditions.

In a separate climate outlook, the meteorological department stated that El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season, which could influence rainfall patterns across South Asia.

The advisory urges citizens to take precautionary measures, avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather, and stay updated with official forecasts as the system moves across the country.