ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Thursday that weather conditions are shifting toward heatwave development in the coming weeks, particularly across the plains of Sindh and southern Punjab.
As the March-April-May season trends warmer than usual, mean temperatures are expected to remain above normal throughout most of the country, with the most pronounced warming projected for Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
While temperatures rise, the PMD projects near-normal to slightly above-normal rainfall for the season, driven by westerly disturbances affecting southern KP, central Punjab, and northern Balochistan. Other regions, including Sindh and central-to-southern Balochistan, are expected to see rainfall closer to typical seasonal averages.
The department also flagged several environmental risks, noting that developing temperature gradients may trigger dust storms, strong winds, and hailstorms. Additionally, an early pollen peak is anticipated in major cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. At the same time, warmer conditions in the plains could accelerate pest and disease activity in Rabi crops, necessitating close monitoring.
