The Met Office has forecast some four spells of thunderstorm and rain coupled with isolated hailstorms and windstorm for upcountry during May. Northern half of the country is expected to receive slightly above normal precipitation. Hot and dry conditions, with chances of dust/thunderstorms, will prevail in the southern half of the country during the current month.

"3-4 spells of thunderstorm-rain and isolated hailstorms associated with windstorm are predicted in Upper Punjab, AJK, KP and adjoining areas of Gilgit-Baltistan," the Met said. It said that temperature in the southern half of the country is likely to remain slightly above normal. "El Niño, one of the global climate drivers, is developing and it is predicted to be in peak phase in the autumn 2017, while Indian Ocean Dipole is forecasted to swing within normal limits throughout the summer season," it added.

Highest temperature in the last 24 hours was recorded in Dadu, Larkana, Sukkur at 48 degrees Celsius each, followed by Sibbi and Jacobabad 47 each, Chhor, Padidan, Rohri, Rahim Yar Khan and Shaheed Benazirabad 46 each. In the next 24 hours mainly hot and dry weather is expected in the most plains of the country while very hot weather is likely in Upper Sindh and South Punjab. However, light rain with thunderstorm is expected at a few places in Makran, Zhob, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat and Bannu Divisions, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017