Warning as season’s first heatwave begins

Islamabad:The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a heatwave advisory, forecasting the season’s first significant rise in temperatures starting from today (May 15).

According to it, a high-pressure weather system is expected to envelop most parts of the country, triggering a spell of extreme heat over the coming days. Temperatures in southern regions, including Sindh, southern Punjab and Balochistan, are likely to remain 4-6°C above normal from May 15 to 20.

Meanwhile, the northern and central regions, comprising central and upper Punjab, Islamabad, KPK, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, are expected to experience temperatures 5-7°C above average between May 15 and 19. The PMD also forecast the arrival of a westerly weather system in the upper parts of the country by the evening or night of May 19.

The system, according to it, is likely to bring rain, wind and thunderstorms, including isolated heavy downpours and hailstorms, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, the Potohar region, including northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan on May 19 and 20. Amid the rising temperatures, the Met Department advised people, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, women and the elderly, to take necessary precautions.

It urged them to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, stay well-hydrated and limit outdoor activities during peak heat hours. Farmers were advised to plan agricultural activities in accordance with the forecast, and to take special care of their livestock. The PMD warned that the rising temperatures in northern areas could accelerate snowmelt, potentially impacting water flows. It emphasised the importance of responsible water usage across all sectors due to the possible demand surge during the heatwave period.