According to Dawn, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that a protracted heatwave will affect Pakistan starting today (April 26) and that temperatures will rise over parts of the nation until the end of the month.

The PMD predicts that beginning on April 26, a high-pressure system will develop over the upper atmosphere, strengthening its grip on the majority of areas by April 27. It is expected to cause daytime temperatures in southern Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh to rise five to seven degrees Celsius above average between April 26 and May 1.

Similarly, between April 27 and 30, daytime temperatures in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the upper part of central and upper Punjab are predicted to be four to six degrees Celsius above average.

To lessen the hazards connected with excessive heat, authorities have asked the public to take preventative steps, especially women, children, and older individuals.

According to the PMD, a weather system is predicted to move into the country’s top regions on April 30, marking the beginning of a shift in the weather. According to Dawn, between April 30 and May 1, this system is expected to produce rain, wind, and thunderstorms, with the possibility of isolated heavy showers and hailstorms, especially across Kashmir, Islamabad, the Pothohar area, northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

It is anticipated that this system’s arrival would alleviate the current hot conditions starting on May 1. But the PMD has cautioned that during this time, especially in Islamabad, Pothohar, northeast Punjab, and portions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, strong winds, dust storms, and lightning could present risks and possibly destroy delicate structures like electric poles, trees, cars, and solar panels.

A more comprehensive weather projection has been released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which projects unstable circumstances nationwide from May 1 to May 7.

In areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, upper and central Punjab, northern Balochistan, and southern Sindh, the NDMA has warned that moisture inflow from the Arabian Sea and eastern regions, along with rising temperatures and humidity levels, is likely to cause moderate to heavy rainfall, windstorms, thunderstorms, lightning, and isolated hailstorms, Dawn reported.

The pace of snowmelt is also predicted to increase due to rising temperatures in northern regions, especially between April 27 and May 1.