Upper, central parts of country expected to see dust storms, rain from May 2-5; extreme heat grips Sindh cities

RAWALPINDI/LAHORE/KARACHI: Pakistan is confronting a stark weather dichotomy this week, as extreme heat scorches southern parts of the country while central and northern regions brace for widespread dust storms, rain, and potential landslides triggered by an incoming weather system. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that a fresh westerly wave is expected to approach the northwestern parts of the country on Saturday evening and would persist in the upper regions until May 5. In sharp contrast, extreme heat has gripped much of Sindh. In Karachi, the maximum temperature is expected to rise to 39 degrees Celsius over the weekend, according to Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder. Across the large swathes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the fresh westerly weather system is forecast to bring dust-thunderstorms and rain, with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms. Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan are expected to witness thunderstorms, rains and hailstorms under the influence of the westerly wave from Saturday evening till Monday. In Punjab and the federal capital, a similar weather pattern is forecast for the same period. “Dust-thunderstorm/rain with isolated hailstorm is expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal,” the Met Office said. Southern Punjab districts, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, and Rajanpur, are expected to witness rain-windstorms on May 3 and May 4. The approaching system is also likely to affect Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from the night of May 2 until May 5, bringing rain and wind-thunderstorms to Diamer, Astore, Skardu, Hunza, Neelum Valley and Muzaffarabad. Parts of Bal