Bahawalpur Cools Down, Storm Alerts Issued for Lahore
News Desk
Islamabad: A windstorm brought much-needed relief to Bahawalpur on Sunday, significantly lowering temperatures after several days of intense heat, while hot and partly cloudy weather conditions persisted in Lahore with forecasts warning of potential thunderstorms and hail in parts of the country.
According to the local Met Office, Bahawalpur had been reeling under a severe heatwave, with daily maximum temperatures soaring between 47°C and 48°C.
The heat had disrupted routine life across the region. However, a sudden wind and dust storm on Sunday brought a notable change in the weather, dropping temperatures by 8 to 9 degrees Celsius.
The highest temperature recorded after the storm was 39°C, with a minimum of 31°C, making the weather significantly more pleasant for residents.
In contrast, Lahore experienced another hot and partly cloudy day on Sunday, with the maximum temperature recorded at 36°C.
The Meteorological Department has forecast similar weather for the next 24 hours, cautioning that moist currents entering the upper and central parts of the country, combined with a new westerly wave expected Monday evening, could result in rain, thunderstorms, and even hailstorms in several regions.
The MET office issued an alert for potential structural damage due to wind, dust-thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rainfall, particularly affecting vulnerable structures like electric poles, trees, vehicles, and solar panels between Monday evening and Tuesday.
While most parts of the country are expected to remain hot and dry, rain and thunderstorms are likely in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, the Potohar region, and northern and southeastern Balochistan during the evening or night. Isolated heavy rainfall and hailstorms may also occur in these areas.
Rainfall was reported on Sunday from several cities including Narowal, Hafizabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Jhang, Gujrat, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Joharabad, Mangla, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Kotli.
Meanwhile, the highest temperature recorded nationwide on Sunday was 46°C in Nokkundi, Sakrand, Chhor, and Mithi. Lahore’s air quality remained moderate, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 58. However, PM2.5 levels were measured at 2.6 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended annual limit, raising concerns over prolonged exposure risks.
