Temperature may soar to 50 degree Celsius this week

Islamabad

While issuing a severe weather alert for the current week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department on Monday warned the people about a heat wave sweeping across the country's plains with the temperature soaring to 50 degree Celsius.

It asked the people to take preventive steps against heat stroke and dehydration to stay healthy.

According to a spokesman for the PMD, there will be a very hot and dry weather all over the country during the ongoing week.

"The low elevation agricultural plains of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh will be the centre of the heat wave where day temperatures will cross over 45°C, while the temperatures in central parts will touch a critical level of 50°C," he said.

The weatherman said temperatures in mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir would go up by four to five degree Celsius above average and thus, causing rapid melting of snow and glaciers.

He however had good news for the people living in the country's coastal areas.

"Due to continuity of the sea breeze, the coastal areas of the country will not experience sharp rise in temperatures.

"The day temperatures in Karachi will generally remain below 40°C. Wind will continue blowing from the sea at variable speed with comfortable level of humidity," he said.

The PMD official suggested that in view of the intense heat and dry weather, the public should take preventive measures against heat stroke and dehydration as advised by health authorities.