KARACHI, June 27(Alliance News):Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast the arrival of the monsoon season from July 1, with initial rains expected in northeastern parts of the country, while Sindh, including Karachi, is unlikely to receive significant monsoon rainfall before July 5.
PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir said the upcoming monsoon system will first affect Punjab, Kashmir, and northern areas, with rainfall expected in northeastern Punjab and adjoining regions from the beginning of July.
However, he said there was currently no indication of a strong monsoon system reaching Sindh in the coming days. Rainfall chances in the province are expected to improve after July 5 due to possible influence from a low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal.
The PMD spokesperson warned that several areas of Sindh, including Karachi, may receive below-normal rainfall during the upcoming monsoon season.
The forecast comes as the weather department expects above-normal temperatures across the country, particularly in southern regions extending from eastern Balochistan and western Sindh to central Punjab.
PMD data showed that Sindh received only 0.3 millimetres of rainfall in May, around 91.3% below the normal average of 3.1 millimetres recorded during 1991–2020. The province also recorded an average temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius, which was one degree above normal.
For June, the Met Office predicted near-normal to slightly below-normal rainfall across Pakistan, with southern regions, including Sindh, likely to experience significant variation in rainfall patterns.
The department warned that higher-than-normal temperatures could increase the risk of heat spikes and prolonged heatwave conditions, especially in the plains of Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan.
Experts have cautioned that reduced rainfall combined with rising temperatures could worsen water stress and heat-related challenges in vulnerable areas.
The PMD also highlighted that even with overall below-normal rainfall, intense short-duration rains could still occur in some locations, potentially causing urban flooding in major cities due to poor drainage systems and low-lying areas.
