Karachi to receive moderate showers, not UAE-like heavy rainfall: PMD

The weather system that wreaked havoc in the Gulf states and entered Balochistan is predicted to bring its effects to several other parts of the country, including Karachi, on April 18 and 19, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) received heavy rainfall due to a powerful westerly weather system, which caused flood-like situations in some parts of the Gulf region. The system then entered Balochistan, bringing downpours to the Makran coast.

The UAE experienced torrential rains that shattered a 75-year record, causing flooding in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi from Monday to Tuesday.

In just a few hours, Dubai received rainfall equivalent to two years, causing widespread flooding.

After weather reports predicting UAE-like rainfall in Karachi surfaced, the weather department clarified that the metropolis is unlikely to experience such heavy rainfall.

Instead, moderate rain between 15 and 40 millimeters is expected during the upcoming rain spell in the city.

Met office has forecast scattered thunderstorms in Karachi division, Jamshoro, Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, Sukkur, and Ghotki. 

Amid the ongoing westerly weather system, the UAE experienced unprecedented rainfall in the past 24 hours, which ended at 9pm on Tuesday, April 16, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).

This is the highest amount of rainfall recorded in the country since climate data collection began in 1949.

Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain city received a historic downpour. A staggering 254 millimeters of rain fell within a single day, breaking the previous record of 287.6 millimeters set at Al Shuwaib station in March 2016.

Rainwater entered markets, shopping malls and metro stations, many roads were inundated in Sharjah, torrential rains also suspended life in Ajman and Al Ain.

Persistent rainfall caused water to accumulate in front of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest, also experienced numerous incoming flight cancellations.

Intercity bus services between Emirati cities have also been suspended.

Heavy downpour triggered deadly floods in Oman that claimed 18 lives before moving on to wreak havoc in the UAE, Bahrain, and parts of Qatar.