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.

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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. Rain-windstorms and thunderstorms, with isolated hailstorms, may also affect Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan and Khanewal on May 3 and 4.

The weather system is expected to extend to the northern regions as well. Gilgit-Baltistan, including Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar, is likely to experience rain-wind and thunderstorm activity from the night of May 2 until May 5.

Moreover, heavy rainfall and hailstorms are also expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur, during the same period.

Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Kohlu, Zhob, Barkhan and Loralai, may experience windstorms and thunderstorms from May 2 to May 4. Upper Sindh is also likely to witness dust-thunderstorms on May 2 and 3.

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Highlighting potential impacts, the Met Office warned that windstorms, hailstorms and lightning may damage weak structures such as electric poles, billboards and solar panels.

It also cautioned about the likelihood of landslides in vulnerable areas of upper K-P, GB and Kashmir, particularly on May 3 and 4. Farmers in K-P and upper Punjab were advised to take timely measures to protect standing crops from possible hailstorm and windstorm damage.

The department said the prevailing intense heat in the plains was likely to ease during the forecast period.

Tourists and travellers were advised to exercise extra caution and avoid unnecessary travel to affected regions, while all relevant authorities were directed to remain on high alert and take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents.