Heat waves are most likely to strike major cities occasionally with a slightly below normal rainfall in the country during April and May 2018, according to the Met Office. It warned that the frequency and intensity of sandstorms are expected to remain higher to disturb harvesting and threshing activities. Similarly, the average temperature is likely to remain above normal throughout the country during the period.
"The expected rise in temperature during the months of April and May is 1 to 2°C. The rise in temperature will accelerate the snowmelt in the Northern Areas and subsequent increase in runoff in upper Indus region," it said, warning that "However, the water reservoir would remain under stress conditions and relevant agencies".
Snowfall scaled back by 20 to 25 percent in the Upper Indus Basin with a fall of its greater amount in February or early March. Rise in temperature is expected to increase water inflow in the Indus and Jhelum Rivers, it said, advising for a better management of the expected aquatic resources during the period.
It alerted that deficient rainfall is feared to intensify drought conditions in Southwest Balochistan and may transform into moderate. However, the prevailing draught over Tharparkar region of Sindh may exaggerate further during April-May 2018. Up to four spells of western weather systems may disturb the country's upper parts in April 2018.
It said that the provincial agriculture authorities should pass on weather forecast to the farmers for making risk-free decisions for harvesting and threshing of Rabi crops, besides sowing of Kharif crops. "The global climate driver, El Nino is proceeding from negative to neutral phase, while Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are swinging along its neutral values during the period, April to May 2018. Their impact on the weather pattern also seems not pronounced," the Met said.
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