Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday predicted intermittent widespread rain/thundershowers with gusty winds over central parts of the country from Sunday to Wednesday. According to the PMD, a westerly weather system (western disturbance) is approaching towards the country and likely to enter Pakistan on April 21, 2013.
As a result, it said, the system is expected to trigger intermittent widespread rain/thundershowers with gusty winds in upper Sindh, southern Punjab, eastern Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Besides, the system is likely to cause rain and thundershowers in scattered places in upper Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from Sunday to Wednesday.
"The possibility of hailstorm in plains of upper Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot be ruled out during the period," the department said. The rain-fed (barani) and irrigated areas of wheat and cotton crops in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are likely to receive scattered rain/thundershowers with gusty winds during the period, it said. "The farmers are, therefore, advised to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid severe weather impacts on wheat crop and keep the harvested crop/fodder on safe places to avoid any loss during rainy days," the department added.