NDMA rain alert till 30 September: flash flood risk in Swat, Skardu and Neelum

The National Disaster Management Authority's emergency centre (NEOC) has issued an alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible flash floods from 25 to 30 September, with the strongest spell expected today and tomorrow (25 and 26 September) as a westerly system intensifies over the north.

Where flash floods are most likely

NDMA named these areas as vulnerable to flash floods in mountain streams and nullahs:

• Gilgit-Baltistan: Astore, Skardu, Roundu, Ghanche, Shigar
• Azad Kashmir: Neelum Valley, Haveli, Poonch, Sudhanoti
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Swat, Bajaur, Dir, Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Battagram, Mansehra

If you are travelling to the north this weekend, including the Karakoram Highway, Kaghan, Swat or Neelum, expect road closures from landslides and check before you set off.

Cities that could see heavy rain and urban flooding

Punjab and Islamabad: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Murree, Galiyat, Mianwali, Khushab, Bhakkar, Layyah, Sialkot, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal and Jhang. Hail is possible in places.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Dir, Swat, Buner, Malakand, Shangla, Battagram, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Peshawar, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan.

Low-lying roads in Rawalpindi (Nullah Leh), Lahore and Peshawar are the usual first to flood in a heavy downpour.

What to do

1. Do not cross a flooded road, stream or nullah, on foot or in a car. NDMA's advice is plain on this, and a few centimetres of fast water can move a motorbike.
2. Stay off mountain roads in the named districts during heavy rain on 25 and 26 September.
3. Keep your phone charged and a torch ready; storms bring power cuts. Check your feeder's outage with your DISCO.
4. Unplug appliances and solar inverters during lightning, and keep away from electricity poles and hanging wires.
5. Farmers: protect harvested crops and fodder from hail.
6. In an emergency, call Rescue 1122.

After the rain: your bill and your solar

A cloudy week means lower output from rooftop solar panels. If you run a battery backup, check how long it will last with our battery backup calculator, and see our solar panel calculator if you are sizing a system.

NDMA has told district administrations to pre-position rescue teams and keep watch on rivers and streams. We will update this story if the alert is extended.