ISLAMABAD: Because of a severe impact of climate change, a sweltering heatwave has been prevailing across different cities of the country since April.
According to the data compiled by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the temperature recorded in Jacobabad and Benazirabad on April 30 was 50 degrees centigrade, smashing the latter’s own 18-year-old record of marking the hottest day on April 26, 2000 with a recorded temperature of 48.1 degrees centigrade.
Moreover, on April 30, highest temperatures recorded in other cities of the country were 49°C in Larkana, Padidan, Moen-jo-daro and Sukkur and 48°C in Dadu, Rohri and Rahim Yar Khan.
Earlier this year, Pakistan had experienced a heatwave in the last week of March with temperatures reaching up to 45°C.
According to experts, while considering the current weather situation, it seems like Pakistan will continue experiencing high temperatures and frequent heatwaves in coming years as well. They believe that the intensity of heat will continue to increase with each passing years.
Ramazan weather
The Met office has predicted hot and dry weather in the holy month of Ramazan. Talking to The Express Tribune, Director General PMD Dr Ghualm Rasul said the weather in May and June would remain hotter than usual.
He said that temperatures in both the months would remain one to two degrees higher than the average. “There are chances of frequent heatwaves during May and June with few showers,” he said.
Fresh rain spell
The Met Office has also predicted a new rain spell starting in upper part of the country from today (Wednesday). According to officials, a continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country.
However, a shallow westerly wave is present in north-western parts of the country and likely to persist in upper parts of the country for some time which will cause thunderstorms with gusty winds at isolated places in upper Punjab areas like Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Lahore and also in various places across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) like Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan and Kohat.
The rainstorm will also hit Fata, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Wednesday and Thursday. These showers are expected to reduce temperatures by three to four degrees centigrade in these regions. Meanwhile hot and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country.