Pakistan forecasts heavy rains in Sindh with flood risks from Sept 7-9

Pakistan’s Meteorological Department has issued a fresh warning of heavy to very heavy rains across Sindh province from September 7-9, heightening fears of flash floods, urban inundation and rising water levels in the country’s major rivers.

According to the latest advisory, widespread thunderstorms accompanied by isolated heavy to very heavy falls are expected across Sindh, with torrential downpours likely to persist through September 9.

The forecast also includes scattered thunderstorms with heavy falls in east Balochistan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Bahawalpur divisions, while isolated rains are predicted for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Sargodha.

Flood situation in rivers

Authorities have warned of exceptionally high flood levels continuing in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala due to water releases from Indian reservoirs. The Chenab River at Panjnad is projected to rise to high to very high flood levels within the next 24 hours, while the Indus River at Guddu is expected to attain a high flood level between September 8-9.

Punjab and Sindh - neighboring provinces along the Indus River system - remain on alert. Officials cautioned that water surging through Punjab’s tributaries could combine in the Indus and test Sindh’s flood defenses, particularly at the Guddu Barrage, a major flow-control point.

Flash and urban flooding risks

The advisory also highlighted the risk of flash flooding in streams and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kirthar Range, and east Balochistan from September 7-9. Meanwhile, urban flooding is expected in several major cities of Sindh during the same period.

Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious and adhere to official safety instructions as rains intensify and flood risks grow.

Forecast for the next 24-72 hours

For the next 24 hours, widespread thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy rainfall are expected in Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions.

Scattered thunderstorms with heavy falls are forecast for the upper catchments of eastern rivers as well as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana. Isolated rains are also likely in east Balochistan and Multan divisions.

The latest warnings come as Pakistan continues to grapple with widespread flooding from this year’s monsoon, which has killed more than 880 people and injured nearly 1,200 since June, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Earlier this week, fears of extreme flooding gripped southern Sindh after India released large volumes of water upstream, swelling rivers in eastern Punjab. National authorities had warned the surge could strike the Indus River by early September.

However, by Friday evening, flows at a key control point remained far below forecast levels, providing temporary relief to downstream communities.