Pakistan lies in the temperate zone. The climate is generally varied throughout the country, characterized by hot summers and cool or cold winters. The upper parts of Pakistan usually receive precipitation from the Western Disturbance. From June till September most of the country is lashed by the South West Monsoon.
Pakistan has recorded one of the highest temperatures in the world, Mohenjo-Daro, Sindh, 53.5 °C (128.3 °F) on 26 May, 2010. It is not only the hottest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan, but also the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded in the continent of Asia. As Pakistan is located on a great landmass north of the tropic of Cancer (between latitudes 24° and 37° N), it has a continental type of climate characterized by extreme variations of temperature, both seasonally and daily. Very high altitudes modify the climate in the winter, snow cover northern mountains; temperatures on the Balochistan Plateau are somewhat higher. Along the coastal strip, the climate is modified by sea breezes. In the rest of the country, temperatures reach great heights in the summer. The mean temperature during June is 38 °C (100 °F) in the plains, and the highest temperatures can exceed 47 °C (117 °F). In the summer, hot winds called Loo (wind) blow across the plains during the day. The dry, hot weather is broken occasionally by dust storms and thunderstorms that temporarily lower the temperature. Evenings are cool; the diurnal variation in temperature may be as much as 11 °C (52 °F) to 17 °C (63 °F). Winters are cold, with minimum mean temperatures in Punjab of about 4 °C (39 °F) in January, and sub-zero temperatures in the far north and Balochistan.
Pakistan has recorded one of the highest temperatures in the world, Mohenjo-Daro, Sindh, 53.5 °C (128.3 °F) on 26 May, 2010. It is not only the hottest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan, but also the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded in the continent of Asia. As Pakistan is located on a great landmass north of the tropic of Cancer (between latitudes 24° and 37° N), it has a continental type of climate characterized by extreme variations of temperature, both seasonally and daily. Very high altitudes modify the climate in the winter, snow cover northern mountains; temperatures on the Balochistan Plateau are somewhat higher. Along the coastal strip, the climate is modified by sea breezes. In the rest of the country, temperatures reach great heights in the summer. The mean temperature during June is 38 °C (100 °F) in the plains, and the highest temperatures can exceed 47 °C (117 °F). In the summer, hot winds called Loo (wind) blow across the plains during the day. The dry, hot weather is broken occasionally by dust storms and thunderstorms that temporarily lower the temperature. Evenings are cool; the diurnal variation in temperature may be as much as 11 °C (52 °F) to 17 °C (63 °F). Winters are cold, with minimum mean temperatures in Punjab of about 4 °C (39 °F) in January, and sub-zero temperatures in the far north and Balochistan.
Autumn
Spring Colors
Winter Season
Summer’s Heat
Seasonal climate
Pakistan has a cool, dry winter starting from November in the North and December in the South but it gets progressively wetter during January and February, especially in the western parts of the country. Snowfall is common in Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Central Balochistan. Spring (March-April) in the North receives ample rain due to the Western Disturbances, Most of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also receives substantial spring precipitation. Most of the country remains dry and hot during May and June and Balochistan remains this way until autumn. The Southwest Monsoon reaches Pakistan in the beginning of July and this leads to heavy rainfall and high humidity. As the Monsoons retreat, a short and dry autumn commences in September in the far North, and October in the rest of the country.
Seasonal Temperature
Pakistan can be divided into four broad temperature regions:
Hot summer and mild winter: 32 °C (90 °F) or more in summer and 10 °C (50 °F) to 21 °C (70 °F) in winter.
Hot summer and mild winter: 32 °C (90 °F) or more in summer and 10 °C (50 °F) to 21 °C (70 °F) in winter.
Warm summer and mild winter: 21 °C (70 °F) - 32 °C (90 °F) in summer and 10 °C (50 °F) to 21 °C (70 °F) in winter.
Warm summer and cool winter: 21 °C (70 °F) - 32 °C (90 °F) in summer and 00 °C (32 °F) - 10 °C (50 °F) in winter.
Mild summer and cool/cold winter: Summer temperature between 10 °C (50 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F) and winter temperature between 00 °C (32 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F)
weather Extremes
Highest temperature and rainfall ever recorded:
The weather extremes in Pakistan include high and low temperatures, heaviest rainfall and flooding. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan is 53.5 °C (128.3 °F) which was recorded in Mohenjo-Daro, Sindh on 26 May, 2010. It was not only the hottest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan but also the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded on the continent of Asia and the fourth highest temperature ever recorded on earth. The highest rainfall of 620 millimeters (24 in) was recorded in Islamabad during 24 hours on 24 July, 2001. The record-breaking rain fell in just 10 hours. It was the heaviest rainfall in Islamabad in the previous 100 years.
Mohenjo-Daro, Sindh Extreme Heat 26 May, 2010
Mohenjo-Daro, Sindh Extreme Heat 26 May, 2010
Forecast in
Islamabad
Islamabad
The record-breaking rain on 24 July, 2001
Tropical cyclones and tornadoes
Each year before the onset of monsoon, that is 15 April to 15 July, and also after its withdrawal, that is 15 September to 15 December, there is always a distinct possibility of the cyclonic storm to develop in the north Arabian Sea. There is a 98 per cent chance of cyclones to turn towards the Indian state of Gujarat, one per cent chance of moving towards the Gulf and one per cent chance of moving towards the Pakistani coast. However tornadoes mostly occur during spring season of March and April usually when a Western Disturbance starts affecting the northern parts of the country. It is also speculated that cycles of tornado years may be correlated to the periods of reduced tropical cyclone activity.
Drought
The drought has become a frequent phenomenon in the country. Already, the massive droughts of 1998-2002 has stretched the coping abilities of the existing systems to the limit and it has barely been able to check the situation from becoming a catastrophe. The drought of 1998-2002 is considered the worst in 50 years. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, the drought was one of the most significant factors responsible for the less than anticipated growth performance. The survey terms it as the worst drought in the history of the country. According to the government, 40 percent of the country's water needs went unmet.
Tornadoe in
Islamabad
Islamabad
Cyclonic Storm developed in the Arabian Sea on June 1
Sindh,
Pakistan
Pakistan
Three Year Drought Dries Up Pakistan Lake, Quetta
Floods
Pakistan has seen many floods and the worst and most destructive was the recent 2010 Pakistan flood. Other floods which caused destruction in the history of Pakistan, includes the flood of 1950, which killed 2910 people. On 1 July 1977 heavy rains and flooding in Karachi, killed 248 people, during which, according to Pakistan meteorological department, 207 millimeters (8.1 in) of rain fell in 24 hours. In 1992 flooding during Monsoon season killed 1,834 people across the country, in 1993 flooding during Monsoon rains killed 3,084 people, in 2003 Sindh province was badly affected due to monsoon rains causing damages in billions, Some 250,000 people were left homeless by a cyclone that lashed the coast of Balochistan and killed 22 people in the province on Wednesday. Torrential rains accompanying Cyclone Yemyeni also inundated dozens of villages and towns in Balochistan and disrupted rail services, communication links and utilities.Before that it killed 213 people in Karachi on its way to Balochistan.
2010 Flood
2010 Flood
2010 Flood
Flood Victims
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