Residents of Karachi and other districts in Sindh are set to endure another day of high temperatures as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts a continuation of rising mercury levels for Tuesday, April 30.
On Monday, temperatures in Karachi reached a sweltering 40°C, matching highs experienced in Dadu and Hyderabad, while Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad reported even higher temperatures of 41°C.
The ongoing heat wave is expected to persist without significant relief, impacting daily life and increasing demands on the city’s power and water supplies.
The PMD has also issued warnings for potential severe weather in other parts of the country. A westerly wave affecting the upper regions is predicted to bring moderate to heavy rainfall, which may cause flash floods in local streams and nullahs of Dir, Swat, Chitral, Mansehra, Kohistan, and Kashmir. The heavy rainfall is likely to trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, posing risks to both lives and infrastructure.
Residents in the affected areas should stay vigilant and follow updates regularly, advises PMD. Precautions should be taken to secure loose structures and safeguard against potential windstorms, hailstorms, and lightning, which could adversely impact human lives, crops, and property.
The contrasting weather pattern sees the northern parts of Pakistan experiencing a different plight. On April 29, rain-windstorms and thunderstorms occurred across Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and upper/central Punjab, with isolated hailstorms also reported. Rawalakot in Kashmir recorded the highest rainfall with 76 mm, followed by Kotli and Garhi Dupatta.
Looking ahead to April 30, most parts of the country, including Karachi, are likely to see dry weather accompanied by gusty winds. However, isolated rain-windstorms and thunderstorms, along with a few hailstorms, are expected in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, providing a slight respite from the dry conditions.
The varied weather across Pakistan poses considerable challenges, from heatwaves in the south to stormy conditions in the north, affecting a wide range of activities including agriculture, transportation, and daily living conditions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, issuing regular updates and advisories to help residents prepare and respond effectively to the dynamic weather patterns.
As the country navigates these challenging conditions, the focus remains on ensuring public safety and minimizing the adverse impacts of weather-related incidents across the affected regions.
