LAHORE: Pre-monsoon rain and wind have provided relief to Pakistanis, who have been grappling with hot weather and hours-long load shedding. But, the downpour as usual forced people to live in darkness due to power outages.

“Gusty/dust raising winds are likely in central/southern Punjab and upper Sindh with rain-wind/thunderstorm in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad, Pothohar region, upper Punjab and upper/central Balochistan in the afternoon/evening on Sunday [today],” the Pakistan Meteorological Department said in its weather forecast.

Monsoon onset was expected in the last week of June whereas pre-monsoon rains may occur from the second week of June, according to the outlook for monsoon (JAS).

The following cities received rain with thunderstorms on Saturday.

• Faisalabad
• Sheikhupura
• Nankana Sahib
• Jhang
• Chiniot
• Jaranwala
• Chak Jhumra
• Bhawana
• Lahore’s Raiwand and Changa Manga
• Okara
• Loralai
• Warkan
• Chaman

The JAS outlook added that monsoon rainfall was expected to be above normal over Punjab and Sindh whereas slightly above normal rainfall was expected over the remaining parts of the country. “First phase (July 1 to mid-August) of monsoon is expected to be wet as compared to the last phase (mid-August to end of September).”

Impacts

• Hydro-meteorological events (floods and flash floods, thunderstorms)
• Increase in the rate of snowmelt in the northern areas
• Sufficient water availability for irrigation and power sectors will be a good impact

Dera Bugti

The Dera Bugti, the gas-rich area, also received gusty winds following the pre-monsoon spell. However, farmers in Dera Bugti’s Tehsil Pehlawag have suffered thousands of rupees of losses because of broken solar panels when the second spell of gusty winds blew on Saturday.

The area is expected to receive downpour as clouds have been hovering above the sky since Sunday morning. Kharcha, the border area of the district, received rain on Saturday.

Rakni and Kharcha, the two areas of Bakran located at the border of Dera Bugti, received rain on Saturday from around 4 to 5pm. The rainwater reached Bikar and Pelamurnujh on Sunday morning through Sohri River. It also reaches Loralai, Biftr, and Ghingri.