Unseasonal Storms Impact Pakistan and India
On Wednesday, unseasonably wet weather affected southern and north-west India, bringing heavy rain from the west accompanied by thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds.
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, was severely impacted, with local rainfall exceeding 50mm and wind gusts reaching up to 60mph. The storms caused the collapse of walls, buildings, and a pedestrian bridge, resulting in widespread flooding and power outages throughout the city. At least 18 people lost their lives, and several others were injured. Many fatalities were due to structural collapses, while others resulted from a fallen tree and a lightning strike.
Storm activity was less intense in the adjacent Indian provinces of Gujarat and Rajasthan, where most areas recorded no more than 15mm of rain. However, the city of Rajkot experienced 38mm of rainfall. Despite the lower intensity, the storms caused some power outages and minor damage to trees and buildings. Local farmers have expressed concerns about the adverse effects on agriculture, including potential crop damage and disruption to upcoming harvests.
Heavy rainfall during this period is unusual for the region, as the majority of annual precipitation occurs during the monsoon season from June to September. Karachi’s average rainfall in March is 15.7mm, and this month is typically one of the driest in north-west India. Most of Gujarat usually receives less than 1mm on average, and large parts of Rajasthan receive no more than 5mm.
Heatwave Sweeps Across Western United States
Simultaneously, a significant heatwave has affected large parts of the western United States, intensifying throughout the week with temperatures expected to peak on Friday and Saturday. This heatwave is attributed to a meandering jet stream combined with a nearly stationary high-pressure system. These atmospheric conditions have trapped warm air flowing from the south, which, under clear skies, has been heated further by solar radiation, creating what is known as a heat dome.
Maximum temperatures are forecast to exceed 30°C widely across the southwest, approximately 10 to 15 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. On Thursday, temperatures reached 42.2°C in Indio, California, with many weather stations breaking March temperature records.
Phoenix, Arizona, is expected to experience temperatures above 40°C for three consecutive days from Thursday to Saturday. This will break the city’s March temperature record and may even surpass the April record.
Denver, Colorado, is forecast to exceed 30°C on Saturday, nearly 20°C above average for this time of year. The heatwave is anticipated to continue into the following week and move eastward, bringing unusually warm weather to much of the United States by midweek.
