Temperatures in Pakistan may hit record 50°C: report

Temperatures in parts of Pakistan may reach unprecedented levels this week, nearing the global record for the month of April, according to The Washington Post report.

Southern and central Pakistan recorded temperatures up to 118°F (47.7°C) over the weekend, and forecasts predict the mercury could climb even higher through Wednesday, potentially approaching the all-time April high of 122°F (50°C).

That record was set in 2018 in Nawabshah, in Sindh province — the same area now under close watch again.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued heatwave warnings for many areas of the country from April 26 to 30, urging citizens to take precautions amid dangerously high temperatures.

The intense heat is part of a broader dome of high pressure stretching from the Middle East into South Asia — a phenomenon likened by experts to a "lid trapping heat in a pot." The heatwave has contributed to soaring temperatures not only in Pakistan but also across more than 20 countries in the region.

According to Maximiliano Herrera, a weather historian who tracks global extremes, Nawabshah’s 2018 temperature still stands as Asia’s highest for April. While a 124°F reading was once reported in Santa Rosa, Mexico in 2001, it is considered unreliable by most meteorological standards.

This week, computer models — including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) — are predicting highs near 120°F for parts of central Pakistan, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday.

Since the model slightly underestimated last weekend’s actual temperatures, experts say reaching or surpassing the 2018 record is within the realm of possibility.

As the heat intensifies, the impact is expected to ripple across neighbouring countries. Temperatures above 110°F are forecast in nations including Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Later in the week, the sweltering air mass is projected to shift eastward, bringing searing heat to Central Asian countries like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

This comes as April 2025 has already seen record-shattering warmth in several regions. Iraq recently reported its highest April temperature at 115°F, while the UAE and Iran experienced similar peaks.

Turkmenistan has stood out as one of the hottest places on Earth this month, with average temperatures over 7 degrees above normal.

In Pakistan, April temperatures so far have been more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit above average — even before this week’s peak heat.

Climate experts note that this extreme heat aligns with broader trends in a warming world. The first three months of 2025 were the second warmest on record globally, following a record-setting 2024.

Despite the emergence of a La Niña pattern earlier this year — which traditionally brings cooler conditions — global temperatures have remained high, defying historical norms.

With the summer season fast approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, scientists warn that such heatwaves will become more frequent and intense unless global emissions are curbed.