Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department released its weekly drought update, detailing varied rainfall and temperature patterns across the country from October 8th to 14th, 2024. While some regions experienced above-normal rainfall, others saw drier conditions, exacerbating concerns about drought in several areas.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, notable rainfall during the week was concentrated in Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, southeast Sindh, and north Baluchistan. In contrast, most parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Baluchistan experienced dry weather. Particularly, Gilgit Baltistan and southern Sindh recorded above-normal rainfall, whereas the Parachinar and Potohar regions, along with adjacent areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, received below-normal precipitation.

Temperature analyses revealed that the country experienced above-normal temperatures, with deviations ranging from 1 to 3°C above the average, except in Jiwani and Skardu where temperatures were closer to normal. The report also included data on surface soil moisture, sourced from NASA’s GRACE-FO satellite observations, indicating higher moisture levels in Sindh, Baluchistan, and parts of Punjab, while lower values were noted elsewhere, highlighting potential drought risks.

Looking ahead, the forecast from October 17th to 23rd predicts predominantly dry conditions across most of the country, although there will be chances of rain-wind thunderstorms in isolated areas of Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.