Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday issued an alert for glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) in the upper regions of the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, due to a fresh westerly wave expected during the coming week. A Glof refers to the sudden release of water and debris from a glacial lake, leading to the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods in mountain communities. Over 7.1 million people in GB and KP are vulnerable to the phenomenon, according to the Ministry of Climate Change. In an alert issued on Saturday, the department said partly cloudy to cloudy weather accompanied by moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms was expected to affect the glaciated valleys of GB and KP. It highlighted that daytime temperatures were already “running above normal” in glaciated valleys. Web Desk
“The combination of substantial warming and precipitation is likely to substantially accelerate snow and ice melt in the glaciated valleys of these regions,” it said.
It said that water levels in rivers were likely to remain high, existing glacial lakes may expand and new glacial lakes may form due to the large volume of melted water.
It warned that vulnerable downstream settlements and low-lying areas along riverbanks could face sudden inundation, while flash flooding remained a significant threat in susceptible locations.
It added that the rapid expansion of glacial lakes could destabilise natural ice or moraine dams, potentially triggering Glof incidents.
“The thawing of permafrost, combined with excess surface water, can trigger heavy mud and debris flows down mountain slopes,” it said.
