Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that weather patterns are becoming favorable for heatwave development in the next few weeks, especially across the flat regions of southern Punjab and Sindh, as the March to May period is expected to stay warmer than normal.
According to PMD, average temperatures are likely to stay above the usual level in most parts of Pakistan. The northern areas, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, may experience the largest rise compared to normal seasonal temperatures.
In terms of rainfall, the forecast suggests near-normal to slightly above-normal precipitation during the season. The central western regions are expected to receive the most noticeable increase, particularly southern KP, nearby central Punjab, and northern Balochistan, which PMD links to stronger springtime western weather systems.
Other regions such as Sindh, southern and central Balochistan, northern KP, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are likely to receive rainfall close to their usual seasonal averages.
The department also warned about several possible ground-level effects in the coming weeks. Dust storms, strong winds, and hailstorms may develop as temperature differences grow during spring.
Major cities like Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Lahore may see an earlier pollen peak, and rain after mid-March could extend pollen activity, which may worsen allergies for sensitive people. Warmer weather may also help pests and crop diseases spread faster in Rabi crops in the plains, so farmers need to stay alert and monitor fields.
In another warning, PMD said that higher-than-usual temperatures in Gilgit-Baltistan and upper KP may speed up snow melting. This could raise the chance of glacier lake outburst floods later in the season.
The seasonal forecast is meant to show overall weather tendencies and should be used together with short-term forecasts for better planning and daily decision-making.