Weather dept predicts heatwave during Eidul Azha holidays

With Eidul Azha to be observed on May 27, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that heatwave conditions are expected to continue across the country from May 25 to May 31, with temperatures in some areas likely to rise as high as 50°C.

In its advisory issued on Thursday, the PMD said a high-pressure system is expected to develop in the upper atmosphere from May 25 and strengthen further on May 26, triggering moderate to severe heatwave conditions in several regions.

According to the department, daytime temperatures in many districts are expected to remain 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal, with temperatures potentially reaching between 47°C and 50°C in parts of Sindh, southern Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The areas expected to experience extreme heat include Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Dadu, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Badin, Turbat, Panjgur, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Mianwali, Jhang, and Sahiwal, among others.

The PMD also said temperatures in cities including Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Muzaffarabad are likely to stay 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal, with mercury levels expected to range between 42°C and 45°C.

Meanwhile, temperatures in areas of Malakand, Hazara Division, Gilgit-Baltistan, and parts of Azad Kashmir are expected to rise to between 38°C and 40°C.

For Karachi, the weather department forecast very hot conditions, with temperatures likely to remain between 35°C and 38°C during the period.

The PMD also warned that nighttime temperatures would remain unusually high. It advised the public, especially women, children, and elderly citizens, to avoid unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight, stay hydrated, and take precautionary measures during the heatwave.

Farmers were urged to plan agricultural activities carefully and ensure proper care of livestock, while citizens were also advised to use water and electricity responsibly during the extreme weather conditions.