A fresh spell of monsoon rains is set to begin in Karachi and other cities of Sindh today as powerful winds enter the province, according to the Meteorological Department. Intermittent rains are forecast for most districts between August 17 and 19.
In Karachi, conditions are expected to remain humid and partly cloudy, with light showers in suburban areas.
On Monday, moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely, while heavier rainfall may hit certain localities on Tuesday. Officials warn that downpours could persist until August 23, with the possibility of one or two intense spells, raising concerns of urban flooding.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued an alert. Its technical expert, Tayyab Shah, said the current monsoon wave may continue until August 22 with potential intensification.
He noted that another monsoon system is expected to arrive shortly after, while three additional weather systems are moving toward Pakistan — one from the Bay of Bengal and others from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kandahar regions. Northern areas and parts of Punjab, he cautioned, remain at serious risk.
Since June 26, heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have claimed 645 lives nationwide. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been the hardest hit, with 383 deaths, including 313 recorded over the past three days. Punjab has reported 164 fatalities, while Balochistan has seen 29, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh 28 each, Azad Kashmir 14, and Islamabad eight.
