Weather Update: PMD Predicts Significant Rain and Hailstorms to Hit Pakistan from May 2

 

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning regarding incoming dust-thunderstorms, significant downpours, hail, and gale-force winds across various regions in the next few days.

In a Friday advisory, the Met Office forecasted a new westerly system entering the country’s northwest on the evening of May 2, which is expected to linger over upper territories until the morning of May 5.

Widespread storm activity, including heavy rain and hailstorms, is predicted to hit central and northern Pakistan during this time, likely bringing much-needed relief from the current intense heatwave.

According to the PMD, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is anticipated to be the province most impacted by this atmospheric shift.

Thunderstorms, localized heavy rain, and hail are forecasted for Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan starting late May 2 through May 4, with intermittent pauses.

Punjab and the capital, Islamabad, are also prepared for a major impact.

Stormy weather and scattered hailstorms are expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Narowal between the evening of May 2 and the night of May 4.

Additionally, rainy windstorms and thunderstorms with occasional hail may reach Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan, and Khanewal on May 3 and 4. The northern territories will also feel the effects of this system.

Gilgit-Baltistan, covering Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, and Shigar, will likely see rain and thunder from the night of May 2 through May 5.

A similar forecast applies to Azad Kashmir's Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur, with heavy precipitation and hail predicted for the same timeframe.

In Balochistan, turbulent winds and thunderstorms are projected for Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Kohlu, Zhob, Barkhan, and Loralai from May 2 to May 4.

Upper Sindh is also likely to witness dust-thunderstorms on May 2 and 3. The Met Office emphasized several risks associated with these conditions.

Potential landslides could affect high-risk zones in upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, especially on May 3 and 4.

In a separate update, the PMD mentioned that El Nino patterns are expected to emerge in South Asia during the 2026 monsoon period (June-September).

"Global climate models indicate a strong expert consensus that El Nino conditions will likely manifest during the 2026 monsoon season," the Met Office stated.