A new weather system is poised to bring heavy rainfall to upper and central Pakistan, starting on Saturday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). A fresh surge of westerly winds has already entered the upper regions.

The NDMA has issued a nationwide rain alert effective from today until August 30, anticipating three distinct spells of rainfall across the country. These spells are expected to bring intense downpours to most areas, raising concerns about urban flooding, riverine flooding, and landslides in mountainous regions.

The NDMA forecasts particularly heavy rainfall in Muzaffarabad and other parts of Azad Kashmir from today until August 27th. Other areas expected to be significantly impacted include Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and other cities across Punjab. Southern Sindh will also be affected, with cities such as Karachi, Thatta, Sajawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Nawabshah, Dadu, Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, and Shaheed Benazirabad all predicted to experience rainfall.

Meanwhile, Karachi experienced light showers this morning, bringing a welcome respite from the heat. However, the city is expected to remain humid for the next few days, with the next spell of rain predicted to arrive on August 27, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The department also predicts cloudy skies and the return of sea breezes in Karachi.