Karachi likely to receive rain with thunder on July 19

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday forecast rain accompanied by thunder in Karachi on July 19, as monsoon winds enter most parts of Sindh.

According to the Met Office, Karachi will experience partly cloudy and humid weather on Thursday and Friday, while rainfall activity is likely to intensify across several districts of the province.

The department said rain with thunder is expected today (Thursday) in Dadu and Qambar Shahdadkot, while showers are also likely tomorrow (Friday) in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin.

The weather system is expected to bring more widespread rain on July 19, with thunderstorms predicted in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, and Hyderabad. 

Rainfall is also likely in Tando Muhammad Khan, Sanghar, Badin, Thatta, and Sujawal on the same day.

Meanwhile, heavy monsoon rainfall has wreaked havoc in different parts of Punjab, killing at least 43 more people in the last 24 hours and causing urban flooding in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

As per a Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) spokesperson, the authority's managing director has reached out to the Pakistan Army's 111 Brigade as it has been decided to call in the army in case of an emergency.

With the PMD forecasting more downpour, sirens have been sounded in areas surrounding Nullah Leh as the water level has risen by 22 feet prompting the Met Office to issue evacuation orders.

So far, Saidpur has received 53mm of rain, 77mm in Golra, 95mm in Bokra, 67mm in Shamsabad, 105mm in Kachehri, 90mm in Pirwadhai and Gowalmandi and 80mm in Katarian.

A cloud burst was witnessed in Chakwal, causing as much as 423mm of rain.

Sheikhupura and the surrounding areas have also been battered by heavy rains measuring up to 217mm.