RAWALPINDI: Rain accompanied with gusty winds lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the afternoon throwing life out of gear. Winds at the speed of 80 kilometre per hour (40 knots) blew away temporary shelters and some trees.

The office recorded 3mm of rain at Chaklala, 1mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi and 2mm at Islamabad Airport and Zero Point, and 1mm at Bokra in Islamabad. Rain brought down the temperature from 43C to 33C. An official said that a westerly wave entered western and upper parts of the country on May 28 (Sunday) and is likely to persist till May 31 (Wednesday).

Under the influence of this weather system, wind-dust-thunderstorm/rain is expected in Balochistan (Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Qilla Saifullah, Qillah Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Noshki, Naseerabad, Kalat, Lasbella, Khuzdar and Sibbi), Sindh (Sukkur, Dadu, Karachi, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur and Larkana), Punjab (Layyah, Bhakkar, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar khan, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Okara and Pakpattan) on May 28 (evening/night) and May 30.

Wind-dust/thunderstorm-rain with a few hailstorms (isolated heavy falls) is expected in Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Bannu, Tank, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan, Islamabad, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana, Mandi Bahauddin, Khushab, Mianwali, Narowal, Sialkot, Kasur, Lahore and Jhelum from May 28 (evening/night) to May 31 with occasional gaps.

The weather advisory stated that dust storm/wind storm may cause damage to lose structure and standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baloc-histan, Sindh and Kashmir.

It advised farmers to remain cautious during the forecast period and tourists to plan their activities according to weather updates. It asked people to stay in safe places during the dust storm/wind-thunderstorm while civic authorities are particularly advised to remain alert during the forecast period. The power supply remained suspended causing problems in some areas.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2023