Nine Dead in Pakistan Monsoon Rains as U.S. Midwest Faces Thunderstorms and Flash Floods

At least nine people have been killed in rain-related incidents across Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces since July 1 as a new monsoon spell brings heavy downpours, while U.S. authorities issued multiple severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Pakistan Monsoon Deaths Reach Nine

Two men died in a roof collapse in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from torrential rain early Thursday, bringing the two-day death toll to nine including four men, four children and one woman; 23 people were injured. [2] In Punjab, two people were killed and nine injured in the past 24 hours from wall and roof collapses and a billboard failure triggered by strong winds and heavy rain. [2] The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts a monsoon spell from July 1 to July 6 with possible isolated hailstorms and heavy falls in numerous districts. [2]

Roof Collapse and Other Incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At around 2am, torrential rain in Mansehra caused the roof of a temporary mud-and-wood shelter to collapse, claiming the lives of two shepherds and injuring four others, PDMA said. [2] Two lives were lost each in Khyber and Mansehra, while Buner, Haripur, Nowshera, Shangla and Upper Dir saw one death each. [2] Five of those injured were from Lower Dir, and four each from Bajaur, Khyber, Mansehra and Mardan. [2] A woman was wounded in Nowshera, while a child was hurt in Shangla. [2] Additionally, a total of 163 cattle perished, including 138 in Lower Chitral and 25 in Upper Dir, PDMA said. [2] The rainfall impacted infrastructure as well, with Lower Chitral accounting for 30 of the total 41 damaged houses. [2] Two were fully damaged, while 28 were partially affected in the district, which saw flash floods caused by heavy rain. [2] Six houses were fully or partially damaged in Shangla, while three were partially impacted in Upper Chitral. [2] Lower Chitral witnessed torrential rainfall and a cloudburst in the Osaik area of Drosh tehsil, resulting in a flashflood, the PDMA stated in an earlier update. [2] As a result, 27 houses were damaged, along with two mosques, two shops, a pedestrian bridge, two vehicles and two motorcycles. [2] Flashfloods caused by heavy rain also occurred in Upper Chitral, Haripur and Shangla, while lightning strikes were reported from Khyber, Bajaur, Buner and Upper Dir. [2] In Lower Dir, Mardan, Nowshera and Shangla, heavy rains coupled with gusty winds caused wall collapses and trees and solar panels to fall. [2]

Punjab Rain Casualties and Rainfall Totals

In Attock, two people were killed and three others injured when a wall collapsed near Naya Pump. [2] In a separate incident in Para Shaheen Bagh, three people sustained injuries after the roof of a house caved in, the spokesperson said. [2] In Khushab’s Qaidabad area, one person was injured after being struck by lightning. [2] In Sargodha, one person suffered injuries when a signboard collapsed due to strong winds, he added. [2] In Sheikhupura, one person was injured after a wooden roof collapsed on Chak Risala Road. [2] According to the PMD, Mandi Bahauddin recorded the highest rainfall of 23mm between 8pm and 11pm on Wednesday. [2] Murree received 17mm, while Hafizabad and Sheikhupura recorded 14mm each. [2] Other areas received comparatively lighter rainfall, including Gujranwala (11mm), Lahore Airport (10mm), Gujrat (10mm), Garhi Dupatta (10mm), Lahore (6mm), Jhelum (6mm), Mangla (5mm), Balakot (4mm), Barkhan (4mm), Islamabad Zero Point (4mm), Chaklala (4mm), Kotli (3mm), Pattan (1mm), Chakwal (1mm) and Dera Ghazi Khan (1mm). [2]

U.S. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

The National Weather Service in Bismarck has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Eastern Sioux County in south central North Dakota and Emmons County in south central North Dakota until 7:30 AM CDT. [1] At 6:39 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 7 miles northeast of Cannon Ball to 6 miles south of Prairie Knights Resort to 6 miles southeast of Selfridge, moving east at 30 mph. [1] Hazard includes 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. [1] At 4:46 AM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Morristown, or 22 miles east of Lemmon, moving northeast at 35 mph. [4] Hazard includes 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. [4] Impact includes hail damage to vehicles is expected and expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. [4] Locations impacted include Morristown, Watauga, and Keldron. [4]

Flash Flood Warnings in Minnesota

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Southern Houston County in southeastern Minnesota until 8:00 AM CDT. [3] At 5:59 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. [3] Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. [3] Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. [3] Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. [3] At 5:24 AM CDT, emergency management reported flooding resulting in closed roads and difficult travel in Mower County. [5] Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. [5] Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. [5] Flash flooding is already occurring. [5] Hazard includes flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. [5] Impact includes flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage. [5]

Forecast and Broader Monsoon Context

A statement issued by PDMA at 10am, citing data from the PMD, said 40 millimetres (mm) of rainfall was recorded in Kakul during the last 24 hours, 35mm in Malam Jabba, 30mm in Bajaur’s Pashat, 25mm in Balakot, 15mm in Bajaur’s Khaar, 16mm in Parachinar and Mamad Gut each, 10mm in Timergara, 6mm in DI Khan airport area, and 4mm in Pattan. [2] Peshawar witnessed traces of rain, while Dir, Saidu Sharif and Cherat reported 1mm each. [2] The PDMA said partly cloudy weather with chances of rain-windstorm/thunderstorm was expected in Peshawar, Upper and Lower Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Mohmand, Khyber, Nowshera, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D.I. Khan, Tank, and North and South Waziristan districts. [2] Isolated hailstorm/heavyfalls may also occur during the forecast period. [2] Monsoon rains occur across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies. [2] However, heavy downpours also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. [2]

What to watch next: The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts the current monsoon spell continuing through July 6 with possible isolated hailstorms and heavy falls, while National Weather Service warnings remain active for ongoing thunderstorm and flash flood conditions in the affected U.S. counties.