The Met Office has warned that a prolonged heatwave is expected to trigger a flash drought in the southern region of the country during June.
In its advisory on Wednesday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said that the anticipated flash drought could have severe consequences for agriculture, livestock, water resources, and ecosystems in the affected areas.
The intense heat and dry conditions may lead to crop failures and increased risk of wildfires.
The Met Office has advised stakeholders to take proactive measures to prepare for the potentially disastrous impacts in the districts that are most vulnerable to this impending flash drought event.
The districts of Tharparkar, Cholistan, and Thal, all located in the southern region of the country, including areas of south Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, as being particularly vulnerable to the impending flash drought.
The PMD further warned that the effects of the heatwave are expected to lead to flash drought-like conditions across most of the high-temperature regions of the country.
The Met Office stated that drought conditions are likely to worsen and have a significant impact on agriculture, water resources, and livestock before the start of the monsoon season this summer.
The drought will be caused due to lower rainfall and rising temperatures that seared the country in May, causing the heatwave spell to remain unyielding in the southern region.
The temperatures of areas include Lasbela 50 Celsius, Dadu, Sibbi, and Moen jo Daro 49, each, Khairpur, Larkana, and Bahawalnagar 48, each, Hyderabad, Kasur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Joharabad, Khanewal, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara, Padidan, Rohri and Noorpur Thal 47, each.
The ongoing heatwave is causing a rise in land surface temperatures and increased evaporation, leading to concerning levels of soil moisture stress. The Met Office has advised agricultural growers to remain vigilant and prepared, given the rapidly changing weather conditions.
The ongoing heatwave is causing a rise in land surface temperatures and increased evaporation, leading to concerning levels of soil moisture stress. The Met Office has advised agricultural growers to remain vigilant and prepared, given the rapidly changing weather conditions.
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