Iran to Afghanistan, Pakistan to face new round of dangerous thunderstorms this week

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

By Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

On the heels of the deadly severe weather early last week, a new storm threatens to spark violent thunderstorms from Iran to Afghanistan and Pakistan early this week.

The Middle East has been pounded this spring with deadly thunderstorms and flooding. More than three dozen people were killed when severe weather struck Pakistan early last week.

Lives were also lost in Afghanistan, pushing the death toll from rounds of flooding rain since March past 130, according to Anadolu Agency. Weeks of flooding have claimed 70 people in Iran, CNN reported.

Monday into Wednesday will bring another threat to lives and property across the Middle East.

"A new storm impacting Turkey this weekend will bring the increasing risk for isolated severe thunderstorms from central Iran to Pakistan Monday into Wednesday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.

The violent thunderstorms will be capable of producing strong wind gusts, hail, downpours and frequent lightning. Localized flash flooding and mudslides can be triggered.

Dust storms can also be kicked up ahead of any rain, putting motorists at risk for chain-reaction accidents.

"The severe thunderstorms will threaten areas southwest to northeast across central and eastern Iran on Monday, then into Afghanistan on Tuesday and Wednesday," Houk added.

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Tuesday's severe weather threat will also encompass communities over the Afghan borders into neighboring Turkmenistan, as well as western Pakistan.

By Wednesday, northeastern Afghanistan, including Kabul, may continue to face severe thunderstorms, when the risk area can also spread to Islamabad, Pakistan.

Afghan drivers pass through floodwaters as heavy rain falls in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

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Before sparking severe thunderstorms, the storm is expected to bring late-season snow to the mountains from eastern Turkey to northern Iran through Sunday.

"The cold, late-season storm will dump up to 30 cm (a foot) of snow in some of the higher mountains of eastern Turkey and across Armenia, Azerbaijan and northern Iran," according to Houk.

Houk stated that accumulating snow is expected at levels generally above 1,600 meters (5,500 feet) in the north and at or above 2,000 m (7,000 feet) in the south.

"Those snow levels will fluctuate though, especially on the southern side of the storm," he added. That can increase the risk for avalanches.

While the lower elevations may be too warm for snow, Houk is concerned for some communities to be pounded by hail.

"There will be the potential for spotty showers and thunderstorms to produce hail across parts of western Turkey, including Istanbul, on Saturday and across parts of southern Turkey into western Syria, Lebanon and Israel on Sunday," Houk stated.