ISLAMABAD, Apr 30 (Alliance News): As a fierce heatwave grips South Asia, Pakistan is facing the threat of matching or exceeding the global April temperature record of 50°C, originally set in Nawabshah in 2018, according to international forecasts reported by The Washington Post.
Last weekend, central and southern Pakistan saw the mercury climb to 47°C, driven by a massive dome of high pressure trapping extreme heat across the region.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a heatwave advisory through April 30, urging citizens to stay indoors and take necessary precautions.
Weather historian Maximiliano Herrera reaffirmed that Nawabshah’s 2018 record remains Asia’s highest April temperature.
He cast doubt, however, on the reliability of a 2001 51°C reading in Mexico, which is sometimes cited as the global April record.
The extreme temperatures are part of a wider regional phenomenon, with 21 countries—including India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—facing temperatures above 43°C this week.
The ECMWF weather model predicts that parts of central Pakistan could hit 48°C on Wednesday or Thursday, with the possibility of even higher real-world readings given recent underestimations.
So far, the heatwave has caused widespread disruption, as temperatures in Iraq and the UAE have already reached new April records of 46°C. Turkmenistan is witnessing temperatures seven degrees above its monthly average, while Niger also set a new national high of 45°C.
Globally, 63% of the planet has seen above-average temperatures in April, underscoring the accelerating trend of extreme weather due to climate change. Despite the fading of the El Niño phenomenon earlier this year, its cooling counterpart, La Niña, has failed to bring significant relief.
Pakistan’s vulnerability to rising temperatures continues to pose significant risks to public health, agriculture, and water resources, especially in already drought-prone areas.
