LAHORE, Aug 24: The city received intermittent rain on Wednesday marking the beginning of a new monsoon spell, while the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) predicted medium flood in the Chenab in the next 24 hours.

The Sutlej is already in medium flood at Ganda Singhwala due to rain in its upper catchments in India.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the monsoon was likely to remain active in Pakistan during the next seven days, producing widespread rains with isolated heavy falls in different parts of the country.

Widespread rain/thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, was expected in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir.

Scattered rain/thundershowers with isolated heavy falls was expected in Sindh and eastern parts of Balochistan during the next four to five days. Heavy falls might cause urban flash flooding in the said areas. The flooded areas of lower Sindh will receive more rains/thundershowers during the current week.

The FFD said medium flood was expected in Bhimber, Bhunder, Aik, Palku, Hasri Deg, Bein and Basantar nullahs during the next 24 hours which might inundate areas of Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat.

It said moderate to high intensity rainfall had been reported in the upper catchments of the Chenab in Kashmir. Consequently, a flow of 160,000 to 190,000 cusecs was likely to arrive at Marala from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.

The low-lying areas above Marala, particularly the Bajwat sector including Dalowaali, might be inundated, the FFD said, asking the authorities concerned to adopt precautionary measures in these areas.

Meanwhile, it remained heavily overcast in Lahore on Wednesday. Intermittent light rain continued to lash the city throughout the day, making weather pleasant.

The Met Office recorded 13mm of rain at its Jail Road Observatory and 7mm at the airport. The maximum temperature dropped from Tuesday’s 37 degrees C to 28.5 degrees C. The minimum temperature was 26.5 degrees C with 92 per cent humidity in the morning and 96 per cent in the evening.

Partly cloudy weather with chances of thunder/rain has been forecast in the city in the next 24 hours.

Fairly widespread thunderstorm/rain with heavy falls at isolated places over Kashmir, North and Northeast Punjab is expected. Scattered thunderstorm/rain was expected over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, south and central Punjab.

According to the Met Office, on Wednesday Rawalakot received 84mm rain, Kotli 49mm, Sialkot City 46mm, Bahawalnagar 31mm, Joharabad 29mm, Kohat 22mm, Sialkot Airport 19mm, Jhelum 16mm, Garhi Dupatta 7mm, Mangla and Kakul 2mm, Murree 1mm, Karachi, Jhang, while Muzaffarabad and Peshawar airport received traces.