Parts of Pakistan are bracing for record-breaking heat this week, with temperatures potentially nearing the world’s highest-ever recorded for April, according to The Washington Post.
Over the weekend, areas in central and southern Pakistan experienced blistering heat, reaching up to 118°F (47.7°C).
Forecasters warn that conditions could worsen by midweek, possibly nearing the April global high of 122°F (50°C), set in 2018 in Nawabshah, a city now again under intense scrutiny.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued heatwave warnings from April 26 to 30 across many regions, urging people to protect themselves from the extreme conditions.
This dangerous heat surge is part of a broader pressure system spanning the Middle East and South Asia. Experts compare it to “a lid trapping heat in a pot,” creating a stifling heat dome affecting over 20 countries.
Weather historian Maximiliano Herrera confirmed that Nawabshah’s 2018 temperature remains Asia’s hottest for April. Although Santa Rosa, Mexico once reported 124°F in April 2001, that reading is widely considered unreliable.
Forecast models, including those from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), suggest temperatures in central Pakistan could peak around 120°F this Wednesday and Thursday.
Given that recent model predictions slightly underestimated actual readings, experts believe the record could realistically be challenged.
The heat isn’t limited to Pakistan, temperatures above 110°F are also expected in countries like India, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the UAE.
Later in the week, the sweltering air mass is likely to move eastward into Central Asia, affecting nations like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
April 2025 has already been marked by record warmth in several places. Iraq hit 115°F, its highest ever for April, while Iran and the UAE have seen similar extremes.
Turkmenistan, in particular, has stood out as one of the hottest locations this month, with temperatures over 7 degrees above average.
In Pakistan, this April has already been more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than normal, even before this week’s anticipated peak.
Climate scientists warn that such extreme heat events are becoming more common and severe as global temperatures continue to rise.
Despite La Niña, a weather pattern that usually cools global temperatures, the first three months of 2025 were the second warmest on record, following a record-breaking 2024.
Experts continue to stress that without urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, these kinds of heatwaves will become the new normal.