RAWALPINDI: While residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been facing power outages in the hot and humid weather, the Met Office on Sunday predicted light rain on Monday morning.

Though a few days ago, it had predicted a spell of heavy rains in different parts of the country, including the twin cities, from June 30 to July 4, the Met Office changed its advisory on Sunday.

It said the current weather system in Sindh and Balochistan had weakened in its intensity as its core had shifted to south-southwest of Karachi in the Arabian Sea.

However, it may cause rain/wind-thundershower at scattered places (with few heavy falls) in Tharparkar, Umarkot, Thatta, Badin, Sangarh, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Dadu, Karachi and Balochistan (Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Kharan, Panjgur) from Monday evening/night to Wednesday.

Talking to Dawn, a Met Office official said in monsoon the system changed quickly.

He said on Sunday rain lashed Murree and it was likely to hit Rawalpindi and Islamabad early on Monday.

However, he said there were chances of a spell of rain in Potohar region from July 5 that may continue till July 10.

He said monsoon currents were penetrating in central and southern parts of the country.

Hot and humid weather is expected in most districts of the country with chances of rain-wind-thundershower in Sindh, Balochistan, Kashmir, northeast Punjab and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the Met Office, hot and humid weather prevailed over most parts of the country.

However, rain-wind/thundershower occurred at a few places in Kashmir, upper/central Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northeastern Balochistan.

It recorded 12 milimetres of rain in Muzaffarabad 3mm in Barkhan, Balochistan, 1mm in Khuzdar, 2mm in Cherat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1mm in Kasur and Jhelum.

It said Sunday’s highest temperature was recorded in Nokkundi, Dalbandin 47°C, Chillas 46°C and Sibbi 45°C.

On the other hand, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and other civic bodies completed arrangements to avoid any untoward situation in case of heavy rains.

Umer Farooq, a Wasa spokesman, said that the agency was working to clear major nullahs of solid waste. He said Leh Nullah had already been cleaned ahead of monsoon.

He said the recent rain did not raise the water level in the nullah and remained accumulated in streets.

He said Wasa’s emergency response units were ready to deal with any situation in coming days, especially during the Eidul Azha days.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2022