Karachi expected to get wet with first pre-monsoon spell today

City weathercaster rules out any chances of urban flooding during period

Anusha Jafri

Updated 21 Jun, 2022

Pakistan

Karachi mein aaj sham say barish ka imkaan | Aaj Updates

KARACHI: The Met Office has predicted pre-monsoon rain in Karachi from Tuesday (today) evening, ending the months-long dry spell in the city. Since morning winds and dark clouds are hovering over the Sindh’s capital.

“There is no chance of urban flooding and the pre-monsoon season will continue till Wednesday,” Karachi weatherman Sardar Sarfaraz told Aaj News.

The city’s weatherman had earlier forecasted that light rain might fall in Karachi on Tuesday night or Wednesday. However, the heavy falls with thunderstorms are expected in the first week of July.

Light rain is expected in some parts of the city, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said, adding that there are also forecasts for drizzle on Wednesday morning. The Met Office had earlier predicted torrential rains from Monday to Wednesday under the influence of a weather system.

De-silting of 41 drains in Karachi ‘almost complete’

City Administrator Murtaza Wahab on Saturday said that the cleaning and de-silting of 41 major storm drains in Karachi had been “almost completed.”

“The District Municipal Corporations should clean the drains passing through their area, trying not to cause any inconvenience to the citizens in the rainy season,” he said after visiting Jubilee Nullah, Garden Nullah, Soldier Bazaar Nullah and Regal Saddar Nullah.

The cleaning of drains has been a major concern for the city when it receives a downpour more than the expected limit. The above-normal rainfall in Karachi, which can be up to 50mm to 60mm, can cause urban flooding in the city.

Wahab, who is also the provincial government’s spokesman, also directed officials that all the personnel, machinery and other equipment related to the cleaning of drains should be kept in good condition.

“All action for stormwater drainage should be taken under a joint strategy, all districts must make water drainage possible in their respective areas,” he said, “In this monsoon season, there will be no water accumulation on the roads due to cleaning of drains and clearing of choking points.”

Landslide warning in upper parts

The Met Office on Monday predicted chances of heavy rain falls that may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Galyat, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan during the next 48 hours.

Heavy falls may generate flash flooding in local nullahs/rivers of KP, Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Northeast Balochistan, it said in its forecast.

Heavy downpours may cause urban flooding in Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala and Lahore. Windstorms may damage loose structures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

A strong westerly wave was affecting upper and central parts of the country and may persist till Wednesday.

On Tuesday, rain- windstorm /thundershower is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, Sindh and northeast Balochistan.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall and a few hailstorms may also occur at scattered places during the forecast period.

During the last 24 hours, widespread rain-wind/thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls occurred in Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The rainfall recorded during the period was

Sindh