The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has reported extraordinary weather patterns across the country during the 2024 monsoon season, with Punjab and other regions experiencing unprecedented rainfall and temperature fluctuations.
Between July 1 and August 30, Pakistan received 51% more rainfall than the average, with some areas facing record-breaking deluges while others recorded unusually high temperatures. Balochistan and Sindh were the most affected, with Balochistan experiencing a 111% increase in rainfall and Sindh seeing a 108% rise. Punjab also saw a significant increase of 48%, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan recorded smaller increments of 5% and 2%, respectively. In contrast, Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported a 21% decrease in rainfall compared to the average.
Typically, the monsoon season in Pakistan averages around 212mm of rainfall. However, this year’s totals far exceeded expectations. Lahore, for instance, recorded an astonishing 951.1mm of rain during the season, with 603mm falling in August alone. Notably, August 1 marked a historic event for Lahore Airport, which experienced 337mm of rainfall in a single day, the highest ever recorded in the country.
Despite the record-breaking rains, the PMD report highlights that 2022 was the fifth warmest year on record. Additionally, Pakistan experienced its wettest August since 1961, with 243% more rainfall than usual.
