Reporting snapshot · 25 May 2026. This report reflects statements and reporting published on 25 May 2026 and does not include later developments.
What happened
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department on Monday 25 May forecast a severe heatwave across the country from that day until 31 May, warning that maximum temperatures could rise significantly above normal.
According to the department, temperatures are expected to remain 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above average during the period, Daily Qudrat reported. It said temperatures in several cities, including Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mohenjo-daro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Sibi, Turbat, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan, could reach between 47°C and 50°C. In Karachi, temperatures were expected to stay between 35°C and 38°C.
The department said the highest temperature recorded in the country on Sunday was 49°C in Dadu. It said temperatures reached 48°C in Shaheed Benazirabad and Mohenjo-daro, while Jacobabad, Sakrand and Larkana recorded 47°C. Maximum temperatures were 35°C in Karachi and Muzaffarabad, 33°C in Quetta and 27°C in Gilgit.
Why it matters
May heatwaves are a recurring hazard in Pakistan, where prolonged spells of extreme heat can strain power supplies, hit outdoor workers and increase heat-related illness. The forecast places the highest temperatures in the country’s southern belt, spanning Sindh and Balochistan, during a week when many families travel for the Eid holiday. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority had earlier issued a nationwide alert for thunderstorms, heavy rain and flood risk for 18 to 22 May.
What remains uncertain
The department’s alert covered the week to 31 May, but weather officials did not say how long the hottest conditions would last in individual cities or whether new records would be set. The expected impact on hospitals, power demand and working hours had not been detailed by the end of the day.
