Lahore baking in hottest April since 1993

LAHORE: The prevailing extreme heatwave has turned April 2017 as the hottest April passed during the last two decades while Met office predicted that temperature may rise further in the remaining days of the current month. On Monday, highest temperature was observed in Sukkur where it was 47°C while earlier record was 46.5°C on 25th of April, 2000. Similarly, Noorpur Thal, Rahimyar Khan and Bhakkar also observed 47°C while Khanpur, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur observed 46.5°C and 46°C respectively.

Data collected from Met office said that in Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Kot Addu mercury reached 45°C, in Jhang, Faisalabad and Okara mercury reached 44.7°C, 44.5°C and 44°C respectively.

Maximum temperature recorded in Lahore was 43.3°C while the city had already faced similar temperature on April 30, 1999 while so far maximum temperature recorded in Lahore during April was 44°C, which was observed on April 18, 2010.

The record of maximum temperature also broke in Multan where mercury reached 45.1°C while maximum temperature ever recorded in Multan during the month of April was 44.7°C, which occurred on April 19, 2010.

In Khanpur, maximum temperature, which was 46.5°C recorded on April 27, 1993 was levelled on Monday while in Faisalabad, maximum temperature reached 44.5°C whereas so far maximum temperature recorded in this city was 44°C, which was recorded on April 29, 2007.

Sahibzad Khan, Director Met office, Lahore also declared the ongoing month the hottest April so far since 1993. He linked the rising temperature with climate change phenomenon and said weather patterns across the world are changing and Pakistan is no exception. He said this is why the country is facing unusual changes in summer and winter. He said the change in weather pattern will put adverse impacts on agriculture and environment while this can also result in various health issues.

“Continued burning of fossil fuels, cutting of trees and increased urbanisation are some of the factors behind climate change and are spewing greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, making the planet warm up,” he said, adding global climate data and reports of different international organisations also predicted that the year 2017 may become warmer than the previous years.

Director Met office said that extreme heat wave may attract some westerly system resulting in a rain spell. He claimed that extreme heat wave, if continued may create a pressure that may result in early monsoon.

On the other hand, Met office said that dry continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country. They predicted that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country while very hot weather is expected in Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Hyderabad, Naseerabad, Makran, Sibbi, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sargodha, DG Khan, DI Khan, Bannu and Kohat divisions.

No rainfall was recorded anywhere in the country, Met officials said, adding Monday’s maximum temperature was recorded at Larkana where mercury reached 48°C. In Lahore, minimum temperature was 24.3°C and humidity was 11 percent.