LAHORE: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Tuesday issued an orange alert for heatwave during the next one week.

The maximum temperature is expected to reach 38 Celsius in March in Lahore, which is above normal. On Wednesday (today), the temperature of Lahore is likely to be 36 Celsius. Similar weather conditions are expected in central and southern parts of the province.

The NDMA directed all the authorities to remain alert and take necessary precautionary measures during the forecast period to avoid any loss of life/property. It directed all the deputy commissioners to keep the district emergency centers operational round the clock during the period mentioned above.

According to a notification, the Met Office has informed that due to a persistent high pressure in the upper atmosphere the day temperatures are likely to remain unusually high in most parts of the county.

The temperature in south Punjab and adjoining areas will remain 9 to 10 Celsius above normal and in central Punjab it will be 7 to 8 Celsius above normal.

The NDMA alert further states that dry period and heatwave could cause water stress to the standing crops, vegetables and orchards and the farmers should manage crop water accordingly. It says that early harvesting of wheat may start in south Punjab, unusual high temperatures could also cause pollen concentration to rise sharply in Lahore, public should be advised to avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight and dust raising/gusty winds are also expected in the south Punjab.

The heatwave alert has been issued in many parts of India too which shows that the whole region is going through extraordinary weather conditions.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2022