The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Regional Met Office Peshawar, on Thursday forecast widespread rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with occasional gaps in upper and central parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from October 2 to 7, which may trigger flash flooding, landslides and damage to weak infrastructure.
According to the advisory, moist currents from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea are penetrating the region and are likely to intensify between October 4 and 6, while a fresh western disturbance is expected to approach the upper parts of the province during the same period.
Under the influence of these systems, fairly widespread to widespread rain, wind, thunderstorms with heavy falls and hailstorm are likely in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Kolai Pallas, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur and Mohmand districts.
Scattered to fairly widespread rains are also expected in Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
The PMD warned that heavy rainfall may increase flows in local nullahs and streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan.
Landslides are also feared in vulnerable hilly districts including Abbottabad, Battagram, Chitral, Dir, Shangla, Kohistan, Malakand, Mohmand, Orakzai, Kurram, Torghar and North Waziristan. The Met Office further cautioned that heavy rain, windstorm and lightning could damage weak structures such as kacha houses, electricity poles, billboards and solar panels during the spell. Authorities and local administrations have been advised to remain alert, ensure drainage systems are cleared, monitor nullahs and streams, secure billboards and weak structures, and keep emergency services on standby to avoid loss of life and property.