NDMA Warns of Severe Weather Across Pakistan, PMD Issues Heatwave Alert Ahead of May Storm System

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of unstable weather conditions across several parts of Pakistan from May 1 to 7, urging authorities and the public to stay alert and take necessary precautions.

According to the NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), a combination of heavy rain, windstorms, thunderstorms, lightning, and isolated hail is expected to affect regions including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, northern and central Punjab, northern Balochistan, and southern Sindh.

The weather system, attributed to a surge of moisture from eastern regions and the Arabian Sea alongside rising heat and humidity, poses risks of flooding in low-lying areas and potential landslides in hilly terrain.

The NDMA has advised residents to stay informed through the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App, especially before planning travel. It said coordination is ongoing with provincial and district bodies to ensure rapid response capability during the upcoming spell of adverse weather.

Citizens have been urged to follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary exposure to weather-related risks during this period.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a separate heatwave alert, warning of sharply rising temperatures between April 26 and 30. A high-pressure system forming in the upper atmosphere is expected to cause daytime temperatures to rise 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above average in southern parts of the country—including Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan—from April 26 to May 1.

Northern regions, including central and upper Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, are forecast to see temperatures 4 to 6 degrees above normal between April 27 and 30.

Authorities are advising residents to take precautionary measures to stay cool and hydrated, and to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight as the dual threat of a heatwave and severe storms looms over large parts of the country.