Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued its monthly Drought Bulletin for August 2024, revealing varied climate conditions across the nation. While most of the country experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall, some isolated areas recorded below-average precipitation. Additionally, the country saw a slight dip in mean monthly temperatures, with expectations of continued monsoon rains into September.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, several regions including Nokundi in Balochistan, Kohat, Dir, Chitral, Saidu Sharif in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sialkot in Punjab, and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) received less rainfall than usual. This contrasted with the heavier rainfall seen in other parts of the country during the same period.

The report also highlighted that the mean monthly temperatures were mostly between 1 to 1.5°C below normal across Pakistan. However, temperature anomalies varied, ranging from -1.5 to 2.5°C. In spite of the cooler daytime temperatures expected to prevail over most regions, northern areas such as Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, and Kashmir might face warmer than usual temperatures.

Looking forward, the bulletin predicts that monsoon rains will persist through September 2024. This continuation is anticipated to enhance soil moisture levels, benefiting agriculture, livestock, and the regional ecosystem overall. The report also notes significant improvements in moisture conditions in Sindh, Punjab, and North Balochistan due to the recent heavy rains, although western parts of Balochistan remain under moisture stress because of insufficient rainfall.

Given the forecast and current conditions, the bulletin advises disaster management authorities to prepare for disaster risk management (DRM) activities in the upcoming months to mitigate potential impacts of the varying weather patterns.