The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday issued a weather alert warning of widespread dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms and strong winds in the northwestern parts of the country from May 2.

In its advisory, the department said a fresh westerly wave is expected to enter the northwestern regions on the evening of May 2 and persist in the upper parts of the country until the morning of May 5, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa likely to be the most severely affected province.

“Widespread dust-thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds are expected to batter upper and central Pakistan over the coming days,” the PMD said, urging authorities and the public to remain vigilant.

According to the Met Office, dust-thunderstorms, isolated heavy falls and hailstorms were expected across multiple districts of K-P, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan from the evening of May 2 through May 4, with occasional gaps.

Punjab and Islamabad were also expected to be affected.

The PMD also forecast dust-thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Narowal from the evening of May 2 through the night of May 4.