Pakistan Received 51% More Monsoon Rain Than Average This Year

This year’s monsoon season has brought an extraordinary amount of rainfall to Pakistan, with totals 51% above the average. Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab saw dramatic increases of 111%, 108%, and over 48%, respectively.

On August 1, Lahore made headlines by recording 337 millimeters of rain in a single day, contributing to a monsoon total of 951.1 millimeters (38 inches) for the season.

The hottest days in July were observed in three districts of Balochistan: Dalbandin, Nokkundi, and Turbat, while Skardu recorded the coldest night of the season.

August typically sees fewer storms forming in the Arabian Sea compared to the Bay of Bengal, making this year’s tropical cyclone “Sina” a rare event.

The Meteorological Department’s report, covering monsoon rains from July 1 to September 30, noted that the tropical cyclone Sina, formed in the Arabian Sea, was an unusual occurrence. Overall, monsoon rains surpassed the usual average of 212 millimeters by 51%.

Balochistan and Sindh saw substantial increases in rainfall this season, with 111% and 108% more than average, while Punjab experienced a 48% rise. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a 5% increase, and Gilgit-Baltistan saw a 2% uptick. However, Azad Jammu and Kashmir recorded 21% less rainfall than usual.

The report highlighted that Lahore Airport received 337 millimeters of rain on August 1, the highest recorded in the country in 24 hours. Lahore experienced 603 millimeters of rainfall in August alone, bringing the monsoon total to 951.1 millimeters (38 inches). One inch of rainfall equals 25.1 millimeters.

The hottest days of the monsoon season were July 4 in Dalbandin and Nokkundi, and July 7 in Turbat, where temperatures reached 49°C. Skardu recorded the coldest night of the season on September 30, with temperatures dropping to 7.3°C, making it the coldest place in the country during this period.

Pakistan’s average temperature during the monsoon season was 30.59°C, but this year, temperatures were 0.71°C higher, averaging 31.3°C. This marks the fourth time in 64 years that monsoon season temperatures have been unusually high.