A heatwave has taken hold in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and many other regions of Pakistan, and it’s expected to continue until Friday, April 18, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The PMD reported that a strong high-pressure system had settled over the upper layers of the atmosphere, causing temperatures to spike well above the seasonal average across the country.
On Monday, heatwave conditions were reported in most areas and are likely to persist throughout the week.
Southern parts of the country, like Sindh, South Punjab, and Balochistan, are seeing daytime temperatures climb 6°C to 8°C above normal.
In the northern and central regions such as Islamabad, Upper and Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, temperatures are 4°C to 6°C higher than usual.
In the capital, Islamabad, the mercury is expected to rise between 34°C and 36°C on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The same forecast applies to neighboring Rawalpindi.
Over the past 24 hours, most parts of the country, including the Twin Cities, experienced hot and dry conditions.
Dadu recorded the highest temperature nationwide at a scorching 46°C, followed by Shaheed Benazirabad at 45°C.
In Islamabad, Monday’s highest temperature hit 35°C, with relative humidity in the morning dropping to zero percent. Rawalpindi was slightly cooler, reaching 33°C, but it also recorded zero percent morning humidity.