Thunderstorms forecast in parts of Punjab

LAHORE: Intense heat continued across Punjab on Sunday, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department said rain and thunderstorms are likely in several parts of the province from May 19 to 22, potentially bringing some relief from the ongoing heatwave.

Bright sunshine kept temperatures high in Lahore and other central districts during the day. In the provincial capital, the temperature was expected to reach around 40 degrees Celsius. Weather officials said humidity in Lahore was recorded at 41 per cent, while winds were blowing at only three kilometres per hour, a combination that added to the muggy conditions in the city.

The Met Office said no rain is expected in Lahore over the next 24 hours. However, meteorologists said the weather pattern may begin to shift as a shallow westerly wave is likely to move towards the upper parts of the country.

Hot and dry conditions to continue in most areas

According to the department, most parts of the country are expected to remain hot and dry on Monday, with severe heat likely to persist in southern and central regions. In Punjab, dry and very hot weather is expected to continue in most districts during daytime hours, especially in central and southern parts of the province.

The forecast said isolated rain, dust and thunderstorms may develop during the evening and night in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and adjoining hilly areas. In Punjab, Murree, Galliyat and nearby areas are expected to receive rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunder later in the day. Similar weather conditions are also forecast in parts of Kashmir.

Temperatures remain high across the country

The advisory comes as temperatures continue to rise in different parts of Pakistan. During the last 24 hours, extremely hot weather persisted in southern districts of the country.

The highest temperatures recorded during that period were 46 degrees Celsius in Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mohenjo-daro, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

The latest forecast indicates that while much of Punjab is likely to remain under the influence of hot and dry weather in the short term, some northern and upper areas may begin to see unstable conditions as the incoming weather system approaches.