Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has reported that Pakistan experienced significant temperature extremes in March, even as global efforts continue to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In a special summary of observations, the PMD said the country recorded one of its warmest March periods, with several indicators ranking among the highest on record.
According to the report, the national average nighttime temperature reached 14.7°C, which is 2.7°C above the long-term average of 12.0°C, making it the second-highest nighttime temperature recorded for the month. The highest level, 15.0°C, was recorded in 2022.
The report added that the national mean temperature stood at 21.6°C, which is 2.3°C higher than the average of 19.3°C, ranking as the fifth-highest on record. Daytime temperatures were also above normal, with the national average maximum temperature recorded at 28.5°C, reflecting a positive anomaly of 2.0°C.
Regionally, the highest temperature of the month was recorded in Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad in Sindh on March 10, where temperatures reached 40.5°C. Mithi also recorded the highest average maximum temperature for the month at 36.8°C.
In contrast, the lowest temperature was recorded in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, where the temperature dropped to -2.0°C on March 3. Kalam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the coldest location on average, with a mean minimum temperature of 2.5°C.
Rainfall across the country was also above normal. The national area-weighted rainfall stood at 38.9 millimetres, which is 24 percent higher than average for March.
Malam Jabba in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded the highest single-day rainfall of 74 millimetres on March 31 and also emerged as the wettest location for the month with a total of 315 millimetres. The PMD said climate indicators remained neutral, with neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions currently active.
