The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday issued an advisory for “heatwave-like” conditions in the southern areas of the country from April 8-11, urging citizens to avoid exposure to the sunlight.
In a statement, the PMD also forecast, with occasional gaps, dust/thunderstorm-rain in the country’s north from April 8-11. It predicted temperatures to remain 4-7°C above normal in central/south Punjab, Sindh and parts of Balochistan on Tuesday/Wednesday.
According to the PMD, a shallow westerly wave is likely to enter the upper parts of the country on the evening of April 8 and may persist until April 11. Under the influence of this weather system, it said, rain-wind/thunderstorm are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Bunner, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Murree, Galliyat, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir.
In the same period, it said, dust/thunderstorm-rain is expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Mianwali and Jhelum, as well as Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore and Sheikhupura. “Isolated hailstorm may also occur during the forecast period,” it added.
Further, the PMD said, dust storms/gusty winds are also expected in the plains of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh during the forecast period.
The weather body has urged the general public, especially children, women and elderly to take precautionary measures as the temperatures rise. It has advised avoiding exposure to sunlight and staying hydrated and urged farmers to manage their crop activities and livestock management in view of the weather conditions.