Monsoon likely to arrive early in Pakistan

al Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecast an early and above-average monsoon season in Pakistan, with rains expected to begin around June 26 or 27, a few days earlier than the usual July start.

The update was shared during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, which was led by Senator Sherry Rehman at the NDMA headquarters. NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik warned that heavy rains and melting glaciers could cause localized flooding in vulnerable areas.

Northern and Eastern Punjab are expected to get the most rain, possibly up to 50% more than usual. Areas like Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan might also see heavy rainfall. Punjab’s average rainfall could increase from 344 mm to 388 mm, and Southern Punjab may also see higher than normal rainfall.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northern parts might get less rain than usual, but the southern areas are expected to get normal or even above-normal rainfall. KP’s rainfall could go up from 243 mm to 300 mm. Azad Kashmir is also likely to receive heavy rain, while Balochistan is expected to face very low rainfall along with extreme heat.

NDMA officials warned about the risk of cloudbursts and flash floods and advised that people in sensitive areas should be prepared. They also mentioned that the NDMA had already issued a heatwave warning six months ago, showing its efforts to manage climate risks in advance.