The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday predicted heavy rains, strong winds and thunderstorms, with isolated hailstorms, in the upper parts of the country over the next two days. In a press release, the Met Office said a westerly wave was likely to enter the upper parts of the country tonight and was expected to persist until Oct 7 (Wednesday). Under the influence of this weather system, the PMD predicted rain, windstorms and thunderstorms, with isolated hailstorms, in various locations in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab as well as the Islamabad region. In KP, “rain-windstorm/thunderstorm” were expected to begin from Monday night in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan. They are predicted to last until Oct 7 (Wednesday), the PMD said. In Kashmir, rain and hail were expected to fall during the next two days in isolated places, including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur. In GB, they were likely in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar during the same period. For Punjab, the PMD forecast “rain-windstorm/thunderstorm” on Oct 6 and Oct 7 at isolated places in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Faisalabad. While “mainly hot and dry weather” was likely to prevail in Sindh and Balochistan, the PMD noted that rain-windstorms and thunderstorms were also expected at isolated places in Balochistan’s Zhob, Barkhan and Musakhel on Tuesday evening and night. The Met Office warned that windstorms, hail and lightning could damage weak structures such as roofs and walls of kutcha houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels. It also noted that daytime temperatures were likely to drop by two to four degrees Celsius during the forecast period. “Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities keeping in view the weather conditions,” the press release stated, also calling on all relevant authorities to remain vigilant and take the necessary measures to avoid untoward situations. A fresh spell of rain hit the country last month, particularly affecting Rawalpindi as inundated roads and knee-deep water at certain points exposed the city’s poor drainage system. Islamabad and Rawalpindi received another burst of heavy rain at the end of September, with civic departments in the garrison city placed on high alert. Earlier that month, KP also witnessed rain as heavy downpours lashed Mohmand, damaging and flooding roads and creating difficulties for residents. Rain coupled with strong winds and dust had also damaged vegetable and maize crops in Bajaur district, but no casualties were reported.