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Pakistan is bracing for scorching temperatures that could hit 50 degrees Celsius this week, potentially surpassing the current global April heat record.
Last weekend, central and southern parts of the country already saw temperatures climb to 48°C, and forecasts suggest further increases through Wednesday. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a heatwave advisory for April 26–30, with Nawabshah being a key area to watch—it may break the standing April world temperature record of 50°C set in 2018, according to The Washington Post.
In total, 21 countries are expected to experience temperatures above 110°F (43.3°C) this week. These include Pakistan, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Qatar, Oman, Sudan, Mauritania, South Sudan, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Eritrea, and Burkina Faso.
Forecasts from the reliable ECMWF model predict highs of 49°C on Wednesday and Thursday. However, since the model previously underestimated actual temperatures by 2–3°C, there's a strong chance that this week's peak could breach the 50°C mark.
Toward the end of the week, the intense heat is expected to shift east into China and Central Asia, bringing sweltering conditions to countries like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, where temperatures may exceed 38°C.
Globally, April 2025 has already been marked by extreme heat, with 63% of the world experiencing above-average temperatures. So far this year, 116 countries have been warmer than usual, while only 39 have been cooler. The first quarter of 2025 is now ranked as the second-hottest on record, just behind 2024, underscoring the ongoing impacts of climate change even as El Niño transitions to the typically cooler La Niña.
