ISLAMABAD, Sept 6: The current forecast on rains has become a reality and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Thursday issued flash flood and urban flood warnings.

With many localities in various cities of the country already submerged, the Met Office has said: “All concerned authorities are advised to remain alert during the current week.” This warning includes the twin cities and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

As the presence of thick and heavy clouds are visible all over Sindh, parts of central Punjab and almost all of KP and Northern Punjab, strong monsoon currents will continue to penetrate most parts of the country, during the current week.

As a result widespread rains/thundershowers with scattered heavyfalls is expected in Punjab, KP and Kashmir, while scattered rain/thundershower with isolated heavyfalls in Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and eastern parts of Balochistan, including Zhob, Kalat, Sibbi, Nasirabad and Makran divisions.

A meteorologist at the PMD has said that due to the low-pressure development in areas of central India, moisture laden clouds from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are moving closer.

These heavy clouds are currently located over west Madhya Pradesh state of India and adjoining areas.

“This well marked low is likely to move further north-westward, during Thursday and Friday and under the influence of this weather system, strong monsoon currents are continuously penetrating Pakistan,” the meteorologist said.

The country is expected to have widespread monsoon rains with scattered heavyfalls from Friday to Sunday, which could generate urban and flash floods in vulnerable areas.

The Met Office has said that during Friday and Sunday areas including Rawalpindi, Islamabad and KP could face widespread rains and thundershowers.

Heavy rains would cause flash floods in D.G. Khan division; its adjoining areas, central and lower parts of KP including Kohat, Peshawar, D.I. Khan and Bannu.

Almost the whole of Sindh and Kashmir are vulnerable to serious flash floods from Friday to Sunday.

During Thursday, Rawalpindi received 10 millimetres (mm) rainfall, Peshawar 88 mm, Toba Tek Sindh 52mm, Jhang 38mm, Sialkot 34mm, Murree 29mm, Balakot 28mm, Benazirabad 27mm, Larkana 26mm, Lower Dir and Dir 23mm, Sibbi 22, Rawalkot 21mm, Multan, Kakul and Khuzdar 19mm, Rahimyar Khan, Barkhan, Sahiwal, Drosh 9mm.