The Met Office has forecast a 'good' rainfall for the northern half of the country with a warning of urban floods in some parts but Sindh and Balochistan are likely to receive below normal rains in July. In the weather outlook for July 2018, it said that the upper parts of the country are likely to receive a 'good' rainfall spell during the last 20 days of the current month that may unleash floods. But, Sindh and Balochistan have weak precipitation prospects with a below average rains.
"The global models indicate the large uncertainty about the evolution of El-Niño during the month of July 2018. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is likely to remain in the neutral phase, while North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is expected to fluctuate in positive phase, during next two months," the Met said.
The Thursday's forecast: Rain-thundershower with gusty winds is expected in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore and Hazara Divisions, besides Islamabad and Kashmir, while scattered falls in Malakand, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, DI Khan, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Sahiwal Divisions, FATA.
Isolated rains are likely in Gilgit-Baltistan with downpours in Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore Divisions and Kashmir. A very hot and humid weather is expected elsewhere in the country. Humidity in Karachi is likely to range up to 75 percent with a maximum 34 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Wednesday. Overall the city is likely to remain cloudy and may receive drizzle.
"Seasonal low lies over North Balochistan with its trough extending south eastward. Monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are penetrating upper parts of the country. A westerly wave is also expected to prevail over the upper parts of the country tonight," it said.
During the past 24 hours very hot and humid weather gripped the most parts of the country with an isolated rain-thundershower and gusty winds in Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala Divisions and Kashmir.
Maximum rain fell in Sialkot (Airport 68 mm and City 45 mm) followed by Garhi Dupatta 65 mm, Murree 59 mm, Muzaffarabad 34 mm, Balakot 23 mm, Rawalakot 17 mm, Kotli 15 mm, Malamjabba 8, Gujrat 7 mm, Dir 4 mm and Mangla 3 mm. Sibbi simmered with 47 degrees Celsius, Dalbandin and Nokkundi 46, each, Dadu 45 on Wednesday.