What happened
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast widespread rain, windstorms and thundershowers across most of the country from 18 to 25 July 2026, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides and urban flooding in vulnerable areas, The Nation reported.
The Met Office said monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea were continuously penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and were likely to strengthen over the weekend, while a western disturbance was expected to approach the upper parts of the country on Monday.
Where rain is expected
In Kashmir, rain, windstorms and thundershowers with scattered heavy to very heavy falls were forecast from the evening of 18 July to 25 July, with occasional gaps, affecting areas including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, similar conditions were expected from the evening of 19 July to 23 July in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu.
Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot and Okara were also expected to receive rain with scattered heavy falls from the evening of 19 July to 23 July. Southern and western districts, including Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur, were expected to receive rainfall from 20 to 24 July.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, moderate to heavy rain was expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from the evening of 18 July to 25 July. Balochistan was likely to receive rain with isolated heavy falls in Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar from 19 to 23 July. Most of Sindh was to remain hot and humid, with isolated rain expected in Tharparkar, Mithi, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Dadu and Jacobabad from the evening of 20 July to 24 July.
The warnings
The PMD warned that windstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electric poles and billboards. It cautioned that landslides could occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir between 20 and 25 July.
The department also warned of possible flash flooding in local streams and nullahs of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, north-eastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and north-eastern Balochistan during the wet spell. Heavy rainfall could trigger urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad from 20 to 23 July.
The PMD advised tourists and travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys and urged farmers to manage crop activities and livestock according to the weather. It said the prevailing hot and humid weather was likely to subside during the forecast period and asked authorities to remain vigilant.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Details are as carried by the cited source, which was reviewed on 2026-07-18.
- The Nation — "PMD forecasts widespread rains across country from today"18 July 2026 · The PMD forecast, regional rainfall expectations, and the flood, landslide and urban-flooding warnings.
