ISLAMABAD: Temperatures hit 44°C and 43?C in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday, and temperatures could reach 45?C in the area on Sunday.

However, low pressure created by high heat across KP and upper Punjab is likely to invite rain-bearing clouds on Monday.

Since June is the hottest and driest month in the Northern Hemisphere – the longest day of the year also falls in this month – the same weather conditions are prevailing in the country. Hot and dry weather will continue in most parts of the country on Sunday as well.

Very hot weather is likely over upper Sindh, its adjoining areas of Balochistan and the plains of Punjab and KP.

Temperatures in Sibbi reached 50?C, followed by 49?C in Dadu, Noorpurthal, Bhakkar, Larkana, Mohenjo-daro and 48?C in Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Rahim Yar Khan and D.G. Khan.

Satellite imagery on the Met Office website shows thick clusters of clouds present over southwest India and parts of the Bay of Bengal.

Low pressure created due to the high heat over northern India and the plains of Punjab will invite moisture-laden heavy winds and clouds from the high pressure area in the east. The Met Office has predicted that rain-bearing clouds are lively to arrive over Punjab and KP from Monday.

These clouds are likely to bring rain thunderstorms in isolated parts of the Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Malakand and Hazara divisions on Monday evening.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2017