Pakistan sizzles in hottest week of year

Pre-monsoon showers are expected after first week of June

ISLAMABAD: Temperatures recorded across Pakistan this week were the highest for the year with the mercury in several cities in the central region hovering around 50 degrees Celsius. On Saturday, the highest temperature of 51 degrees was recorded in Jacobabad and Dadu districts of Sindh.

Throughout Pakistan, the temperature has been fluctuating between 45 degrees to 52 degree Celsius since Thursday and will continue to do so today (Sunday), according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The mercury is even expected to rise by a degree or two as the ongoing heat wave is likely to persist.



While the temperature in Islamabad was 43 degrees centigrade, the thermometer touched 50 in Sibi, Kot Addu, Turbat, Sukkur and Larkana. Daytime temperature in Islamabad is predicted to touch 44 degrees today.

Moenjodaro, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur witnessed 49 degree Celsius while Padidan, Bhakkar, DG Khan baked at 48 degrees. The mercury touched 47 degrees in Okara, Benazirabad, Rohri, Multan, DI Khan, Khanpur and Kohat.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a PMD official said Pakistan was likely to experience an intense heat wave till the first week of June after which pre-monsoon showers were expected.

The weather department has categorised places experiencing temperatures above 45 degree Celsius as hit by the heat wave.

He added a few showers along with dust storms and gusty winds were expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Azad Kashmir, Hazara and Malakand divisions late Sunday evening. The light rainfall might continue till Tuesday and decrease the temperature by four to five degrees.

“But it will be a temporary relief from the scorching heat, as the mercury will rise once again and cross 40 degrees from Thursday onwards,” said the official.



PMD Director-General Ghulam Rasul said Sibi, Larkana and Jacobabad have been the hottest areas this year in Pakistan, where the mercury level crossed the “critical limit” of 50 degree Celsius.

In coming weeks, temperature in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Kohat, DI Khan and DG Khan will touch 48 degree centigrade, he predicted. In South Punjab, northeast Balochistan and upper Sindh, the mercury will rise beyond 50 degrees.

“High temperatures will not be restricted to Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh, larger cities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir like Muzaffarabad and Gilgit will witness 40 degrees centigrade on Sunday,” Rasul added.

Weather in coastal areas, including Karachi, will remain “comfortable” with the mercury is likely to hover between 35 and 37 degrees. “Sea breeze will blow continuously with variable speed, refreshing the air with the required level of humidity,” he said, urging the public to follow the health advice for the next four days.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2016.