Islamabad, Recent climate data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department highlights ongoing drought conditions and temperature deviations across different regions of the country. The weekly report from 8th to 14th May 2024 shows below-normal rainfall in key agricultural zones, while some northern areas experienced temperature drops.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, rainfall during the second week of May was unevenly distributed, with most stations in the north recording some rainfall. However, regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, South Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh received less rain than is typical for this time of year. This disparity in rainfall is detailed in the department’s figures, which show a troubling departure from the normal precipitation levels observed between 1991 and 2020.
Temperature analysis for the same period reveals that while the mean temperatures were normal to above normal across much of Pakistan, certain areas experienced cooler than usual conditions. Places like Padidan and Hyderabad in Sindh, along with multiple locations in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, and Balochistan, reported temperatures 1°C to 2°C below the norm. Conversely, parts of South Punjab, North Balochistan, and Gilgit Baltistan saw a temperature rise by a similar margin.
The forecast for the upcoming week from 15th to 19th May indicates predominantly hot and dry conditions across most parts of the country, with extreme heat expected in central and southern regions. Notably, sporadic rain-wind/thunderstorms are anticipated in northern areas such as Chitral, Dir, and Swat, among others.
The prolonged dry spell, particularly in previously drought-affected areas like South Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, is expected to persist, with no significant weather changes forecasted to alleviate the conditions in these regions.