Karachi and much of Pakistan are experiencing intense heatwave conditions, with some relief potentially on the horizon for parts of Sindh. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) anticipates a pre-monsoon system could bring rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds to isolated areas of Tharparkar and Umarkot starting Saturday evening. This weather is also expected to impact Ghotki, Sukkur, Jacobabad, and nearby regions on Sunday.
While the pre-monsoon system offers some hope, most of Sindh is forecast to remain extremely hot and dry today, Friday. Karachi residents can expect to feel temperatures between 43°C and 49°C, though the actual temperature will likely range from 37°C to 39°C. A disruption in the sea breeze is expected to continue, exacerbating the heat. This disruption is being blamed on wind patterns over Gujarat, India, and a western weather system.
The heatwave isn’t confined to Sindh. Lahore experienced scorching temperatures of 44°C, feeling like 47°C, attributed to a prolonged dry spell. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also facing a severe heatwave, with Peshawar reaching 40°C and projected to climb to 44°C. Temperatures in KP are reportedly 6 to 7°C above average, with Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu hitting 47°C. However, light rainfall is predicted for Peshawar and other KP districts starting Friday.
Southern Punjab, including the Cholistan Desert, is also enduring extreme heat, with temperatures nearing 48°C. The PMD expects this intense heat to persist for the next couple of days. Critically, locals in Cholistan are reporting that water reserves have dried up, leading to severe hardship for livestock, including deaths and forced migration in search of water.
