Dadu Heat Record Hits 51.5°C as Pakistan Faces Extreme Weather Alert
Pakistan’s extreme heat crisis deepened after the Pakistan Meteorological Department confirmed that Dadu in Sindh recorded 51.5°C, setting a new maximum temperature record for the district. The development has placed Sindh and several other heat-prone regions under renewed public attention as Eid days coincide with punishing weather conditions.
According to the meteorological data, Dadu’s latest reading was 4.5°C above its normal level, making it one of the most severe temperature spikes reported in the country this season. Larkana and Jacobabad also remained dangerously hot, with both areas recording 50.5°C as the heatwave intensified across upper Sindh.
The PMD had already warned that hot to very hot weather would continue during Eidul Azha, with temperatures in many parts of the country likely to stay 5°C to 7°C above normal. The latest figures suggest that the warning has translated into a serious ground reality for communities already exposed to water shortages, power demand and outdoor labour risks.
In its advisory, the weather department said maximum temperatures could remain 4°C to 6°C above normal and may climb to between 47°C and 50°C in several districts of Sindh and Balochistan. Areas named in the alert include Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mohenjo Daro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Sibbi, Turbat and Panjgur.
The department also forecast mainly hot and dry weather across most of Pakistan, while allowing for the possibility of isolated rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern Punjab and parts of the Potohar region. For Friday, it again warned that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and central and southern Balochistan would remain very hot.
The record in Dadu comes against a wider climate backdrop in which Pakistan is increasingly exposed to sharp temperature extremes, erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells. The United Nations has warned that global average temperatures are likely to remain at or near record levels this year and for several years ahead, increasing pressure on vulnerable countries.
Climate scientists have repeatedly linked the frequency and severity of heatwaves to a warming planet, although local weather patterns, land conditions and seasonal winds also shape how intensely heat is felt in individual districts. In Pakistan, the impact is often harsher because millions of people work outdoors, live in poorly insulated homes and depend on fragile water and power systems.
The PMD has also cautioned that El Niño conditions may develop during the 2026 monsoon season in South Asia, alongside higher-than-normal minimum and maximum temperatures across much of the region. It has projected below-normal rainfall over many central parts of South Asia, while some northwestern, northeastern and southern areas may still receive normal to above-normal rain.
For Pakistan, the immediate impact is likely to be felt in public health, agriculture, livestock, transport and energy consumption. Extreme heat raises the risk of dehydration, heatstroke and crop stress, while high power demand can add pressure to already stretched electricity networks during peak summer conditions.
Authorities are expected to keep issuing weather advisories as the heatwave evolves, while citizens in high-temperature districts will need to avoid unnecessary sun exposure, remain hydrated and protect children, elderly people and outdoor workers. The Dadu record is a stark reminder that climate-linked heat is no longer a distant warning but an urgent national challenge.