A strong heatwave is sweeping across South Asia, and forecasts suggest that Pakistan might hit 50 degrees Celsius again — a record previously set in April 2018 by Nawabshah. The Washington Post reported that temperatures in central and southern Pakistan touched 47°C last weekend, showing signs of even higher temperatures this week.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a heatwave warning for April 26 to 30, urging people to take precautions. A strong high-pressure system is causing the heat, acting like a lid and trapping hot air across a wide region from the Middle East to South Asia.
Weather historian Maximiliano Herrera confirmed that Nawabshah’s 2018 temperature remains the highest April reading in Asia. He also noted a 51°C reading in Santa Rosa, Mexico, in 2001, but said that it might not be reliable.
This extreme heat is consistent with climate change, as April temperatures have risen sharply in recent years across this region. According to forecasts, the heat in Pakistan will peak on Wednesday and Thursday. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), known for its accuracy, predicts around 48°C in central Pakistan. It had slightly underestimated last weekend’s heat, so real temperatures could be higher, possibly nearing the 50°C mark again.
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This heatwave isn’t limited to Pakistan. Temperatures are expected to cross 43°C in 21 countries this week, including Iran, India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Sudan, Qatar, Mauritania, South Sudan, Oman, Bahrain, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Eritrea and Burkina Faso.
The hot air mass will shift eastward towards China later in the week. A new wave of heat is also expected to rise in Central Asia, especially in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, where temperatures may reach over 37°C.
Pakistan’s current temperatures are already more than four degrees above the April average. Iraq recently recorded 46°C, its highest ever for April. The UAE matched this record, while Niger saw a national record of 45°C. Turkmenistan experienced temperatures more than seven degrees above normal.
Globally, 63% of the planet saw above-average temperatures this April, while only 37% were cooler. A total of 116 countries recorded warmer-than-usual weather. Although a strong El Niño ended earlier this year, the expected cooling from La Niña hasn’t appeared. The first three months of 2025 have been the second-warmest globally, after 2024.
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