A blistering heatwave sweeping across South Asia could push Pakistan’s temperatures to an unprecedented 50 °C this week—a level previously recorded only in April 2018 at Nawabshah.
Forecasters report that much of central and southern Pakistan recently saw highs of 47 °C. This extreme warmth is driven by a massive high-pressure dome trapping hot air over the region.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a heat-wave advisory from April 26 to 30, urging residents to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activity. Renowned weather historian Maximiliano Herrera confirms that Nawabshah’s 2018 reading remains Asia’s April record, with only an unverified 51 °C claim from Mexico in 2001 surpassing it globally.
According to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), peak temperatures near 48 °C are expected on Wednesday and Thursday in central Pakistan. Since the model slightly underestimated last weekend’s heat, experts warn that actual highs could approach—or even exceed—the 50 °C mark.
This heat dome extends from the Middle East into South Asia, where 21 countries—including Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—are forecast to exceed 43 °C this week. The hot air mass will later drift toward China, while Central Asia braces for its own heat surge, with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan likely topping 37 °C.
Already this April, Pakistan has recorded temperatures more than 4 °C above its long-term average. Iraq and the UAE have each set new April highs of 46 °C, Turkmenistan is over 7 °C above its norm, and Niger reached 45 °C. Globally, 63% of land areas have experienced above-average temperatures so far this month.
Despite the fade of a strong El Niño and the emergence of La Niña, which typically cools global temperatures, the first quarter of 2025 was the second-warmest January–March period on record—only behind 2024.
