Heatwave expected in Punjab soon

The Meteorological Department has predicted that Punjab is likely to be hit by a heatwave from May 12 onwards, with temperatures expected to surge past 40 degrees.

Dr Zulfiqar told Geo News that like Sindh, a heatwave is expected in Punjab from the second week of the ongoing month.

The expert advised people to avoid stepping outdoors unnecessarily and stay indoors to avoid heatstroke.

El-Nino effect

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in its monthly outlook for May stated that the neutral phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is expected to persist during the forecast of this month.

Considering the climatic outlook, the PMD added, overall a tendency for near-normal rainfall is expected in most parts of the country, however, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Balochistan, northern Punjab, and Azad Kashmir may get slightly above normal rainfall.

Daytime maximum temperatures are expected to remain slightly above normal over northern and southern parts of the country, however, the central parts comprising most parts of Punjab and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may experience normal to slightly below normal maximum temperature.

Above-normal precipitation in May is expected to benefit agriculture in Pakistan but precautions should be taken to prevent damage to standing wheat crops during the harvesting stage from hailstorms and windstorms in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Photohar region and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Anticipated higher temperatures in high-altitude regions are expected to accelerate snowmelt in the northern areas, offering opportunities for irrigation and power generation, it concluded.