The Met Office has asked the farmers to schedule irrigation plans for the Rabi crops, as a fresh rainy spell has just begun. It warned the farmers of a sizeable yield loss if weeds continued to grow, asking them to remove the unneeded foliages without any delays from their standing crops. It said that the growers should also take steps to preserve the crops and nurseries from the damaging impacts of cold weather.
Weather in the next 10 days: Punjab is likely to witness mainly a dry weather with an isolated rain-thunderstorm in Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi Divisions, besides Islamabad till April 20.
Widely a dry weather may prevail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with chances of rain-thunderstorm in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu and D I Khan Divisions.
Sindh is expected to go through a rainy period as Sukkur and Larkana Divisions may receive rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds and precipitation is also likely elsewhere in the province.
Quetta, Zhob and Kalat Divisions are likely to see a spell of rain-thunderstorm but other parts of Balochistan may remain with a dry weather over the period. Gilgit-Baltistan is also expected to receive a scattered rain-thunderstorm with Kashmir to remain largely dry and cloudy until after April 15, which may also receive rain-thunderstorm.
On Sunday: A widespread dust-thunderstorm-rain is expected in Makran, Kalat Divisions and scattered falls in Quetta, Zhob, Sibbi, Nasirabad, D G Khan, D I Khan Divisions, besides at a few places in Kohat, Bannu, Malakand and Multan Divisions. Isolated moderate to heavy falls are likely in Makran, Zhob and Quetta Divisions. Hailstorm may also strike some rain forecast areas. Hot and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country.
"A shallow westerly wave is presently affecting upper and central parts of the country. This weather system is likely to intensify on Sunday (evening/night) and grip most parts of the country on Monday," the Met said.