Islamabad: During the second half of September 2024, Pakistan experienced a varied climate pattern, with light to moderate rainfall recorded across the country, though certain regions faced below-normal precipitation levels, as per the latest fortnightly drought watch bulletin released by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, central parts of Punjab, Potohar, and Kashmir received the most significant rainfall from September 15 to 30, 2024. Notably, Faisalabad and Gujrat experienced above-normal rainfall, while the Pothohar region, central and lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Kashmir saw less than usual precipitation. The report includes detailed charts and tables, such as Figure No.1 and Table-1, that illustrate the spatial distribution and exact measurements of rainfall across various stations in Pakistan.
The bulletin also highlighted that overall temperatures during this period were above average, with the most considerable increases observed in Dera Ismail Khan and Gilgit districts. Figures throughout the report, like Figure 6, illustrate temperature deviations from the norm, indicating increases ranging between 1 to 5 °C across most of the country.
Moreover, the length of consecutive dry days has been notably long in regions such as Nokundi and Dalbandin, where the dry spells exceeded local averages significantly. Conversely, Kashmir, Pothohar, and adjoining KP areas recorded less than five consecutive dry days, showing minimal drought conditions.
The Meteorological Department has advised stakeholders to remain vigilant of these climatic fluctuations and to consult the latest weather advisories to adequately prepare and implement disaster risk reduction strategies in response to the observed patterns. The emphasis is on adjusting agricultural and water resource management practices to align with the current weather conditions to mitigate potential adverse impacts.