Islamabad: In a week marked by considerable fluctuations in weather, Pakistan experienced varied patterns of rainfall and temperature. From August 1 to August 7, 2024, significant monsoon rains were recorded across most regions, with particularly high rainfall in areas of Mithi Sindh, northeast Punjab, Kashmir, and adjoining parts of Pothohar and Hazara division. In contrast, northwestern Balochistan remained dry, highlighting the uneven distribution of monsoon rains across the country.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the spatial distribution of rainfall during this period showed that regions such as Karachi, Shaheed Benazirabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, Faisalabad, Dir, Parachinar, Kohat, and the broader Kashmir and Pothohar regions received above-average rainfall. Meanwhile, areas including northwestern Balochistan, Paddidan in Sindh, and cities like Sialkot, Lahore, Sargodha, Cherat, Dera Ismael Khan, and Gupis reported below-normal rainfall. The rest of the country experienced normal levels of precipitation.
The report also detailed the temperature variations during the same week. While mean temperatures were relatively low due to the rainfall, most parts of the country still recorded temperatures ranging from 1 to 2°C above normal. Some locations like Bahawalnagar, Mianwali, Zhob, and Dalbandin experienced even higher anomalies, with temperatures ranging from 4 to 5°C above the norm. Conversely, Skardu and Chilas saw temperatures below the normal range by 1 to 2°C.
Further insights from the report include data on surface soil moisture derived from NASA’s GRACE-FO satellite observations, indicating that northern areas and Nokundi in Balochistan have lower moisture content compared to the rest of the country.
Looking ahead, the forecast from September 9 to September 15, 2024, predicts predominantly hot and dry weather across most parts of Pakistan, with occasional rain, wind, and thunderstorms expected in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, northeast Punjab, the Potohar region, Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan.