RAWALPINDI: Weather conditions could be a decisive factor in the opening ODI between Pakistan and Australia as thunderstorms are expected in parts of the city ahead of Saturday’s series opener.
The first of the three-match ODI series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as both sides return to 50-over action in Pakistan for the first bilateral ODI fixture between the two sides in the country since 2022.
Temperatures are expected to reach 30C under partly sunny skies, with the latest weather forecast predicting warm and humid conditions for the day.
But there’s still a good chance we could see thunderstorms pop up in the afternoon, and that could shut things down temporarily.
The RealFeel temperature is expected to be around 30 degrees Celsius but may feel slightly cooler in the shade, around 28 degrees Celsius. Winds from the south at 17 km/h, gusting to 44 km/h.
There is also a 55 percent chance of precipitation with about 5 mm of rain in almost three hours. Thunderstorms are likely with a 52 percent probability, and cloud cover is expected to be around 50 percent for most of the day.
The UV index forecast is 7, meaning high sun exposure when the sky is clear.
Partly sunny skies will continue during the afternoon session with isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to be around the 30°C mark, but the weather may feel a little cooler in shaded areas.
Winds are forecast to be west-southwest at 19 km/h with gusts of 43 km/h. Rainfall of around 2.5 mm is forecast later in the day, while humidity levels are expected to sit at around 38 percent.
Cloud cover and possible showers can also reduce visibility to less than 8 km.
Read More: Pakistan, Ireland, and West Indies tri-series trophy revealed
