Large parts of country set to experience heatwave conditions from June 7 to 12: PMD

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a heatwave warning for various parts of the country from June 7 to June 12.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the districts of Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan are expected to record maximum temperatures four to six degrees Celsius above normal, ranging between 41°C and 46°C from June 8 to 11.

Temperatures are expected to rise to 37°C-40°C in KP’s northern districts of Chitral, Dir and Swat, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan, from June 8 to 10.

In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, maximum temperatures are expected to range between 41°C and 44°C from June 8 to 10.

From June 8 to 11, temperatures are expected to range between 44°C and 48°C in Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Joharabad, Khushab, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Layyah and Kot Addu areas.

Meanwhile, maximum temperatures are likely to remain four to six degrees Celsius above normal in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mohenjo Daro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Sibi, Turbat and Panjgur districts, with temperatures expected to range between 48°C and 51°C from June 7 to 12, added PMD.

Furthermore, in Karachi, the maximum temperature is expected to rise to 40°C - 43°C from June 8 to 12.

“Night temperatures are also likely to rise during the forecast period,” the PMD advisory stated.

The PMD has also warned of dust storms in south Punjab and Sindh due to the heat.

The advisory also asked the general public, especially children, women and senior citizens, to exercise caution during the hearwave.

“Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities in view of the prevailing weather conditions and take care of their livestock as well,” the advisory stated.

The PMD advised avoiding unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight from 10am to 4pm, adding that electricity demand and consumption may also increase during the forecast period.

Earlier this week, the PMD forecast below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across most parts of the country during the months of June to August.

The PMD said in its outlook that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently in a neutral phase and is expected to shift to a positive phase by July 2026, while the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has moved into a positive phase (El Nino) and is expected to strengthen further during the season.

In view of these conditions, the PMD said that “normal to below-normal” rainfall was expected over most parts of the country during the June–July–August (JJA) season, with the largest negative departures likely over the northeastern parts of Punjab.

The findings were reinforced by the Met Office’s probability outlook, which indicated a high probability of below-normal rainfall across most of Pakistan, particularly Punjab, Sindh, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and most of Balochistan.

Meanwhile, mean temperatures are expected to remain above normal throughout the country during the JJA season, with maximum departure over the northeastern parts of the country — particularly eastern GB, Kashmir and adjoining areas of northern Punjab.