Pakistan is on the verge of recording one of the highest-ever April temperatures globally, as a severe heatwave grips central and southern parts of the country. Forecasts suggest Nawabshah could hit a blistering 50°C (122°F) this week, potentially breaking the current global April record set in 2018.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, extreme heat conditions are expected to persist from April 26 to 30, with temperatures already reaching 48°C last weekend. The public has been urged to take all necessary precautions.
This surge is part of a broader global pattern. April 2025 has been exceptionally hot, with 63% of the planet experiencing above-average temperatures, affecting 116 countries, while only 39 nations recorded cooler-than-normal conditions.
The latest projections from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) indicate that several countries, including Pakistan, India, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, may see temperatures soar past 110°F (43°C) this week.
Notably, the ECMWF model underestimated last weekend’s highs by 2-3°C, raising concerns that actual temperatures could surpass the forecasted 49°C on Wednesday and Thursday.
Following this, the sweltering air mass is expected to shift eastward toward China, bringing intense heat to parts of Central Asia, including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, where temperatures may exceed 38°C.
The extreme weather continues to reflect a rapidly warming climate. Despite the shift from a warming El Niño to a typically cooler La Niña, the first quarter of 2025 has already ranked as the second-warmest globally, just behind 2024.
