November 2023 ranked as 2nd warmest November in 63 years

LAHORE:Besides witnessing above-average (+87%) rainfall, the November 2023 was ranked as the 2nd warmest November in the past 63 years with monthly temperature as a whole being 1.24°C warmer.

Data collected from the Met office revealed that the wettest day of the month in the country was November 26 when Pasni (Balochistan) received record-breaking rainfall of 94mm, making it the wettest place as well with the same amount of rainfall as monthly total.

Climatologically, the November rainfall contribution to the national annual total and Post-monsoon was 1.7% and 19.5% respectively. During the month, Pakistan experienced 2-3 light to moderate rainfall spells.

November 2023 rainfall was excessively above average, with 9.6mm mm (+87%), for Pakistan as a whole. On regional scale: Punjab with 11.4mm (+173%) observed the 7th highest November rainfall (record was 22.5mm in 1982), Balochistan with 8.1mm (+214%) also observed the 7th highest November rainfall (record was 25.8mm in 2019), Sindh with 4.1mm (+156%) observed the 8th highest November rainfall (record was 25.9mm in 2019). The KP with 20.6mm (+17%) recoded slightly above average rainfall. The AJK with 21.8mm (-2%) exhibited average rainfall. In contrast to all the GB with 2.2mm (-50%) was the only region that recorded below-average rainfall.

The other significant rainfalls were recorded at Chaklala Airbase 83.0 mm, Attock 75.0mm, Balakot 74.0mm, Kakul 72.0mm, Malam Jabba 68.0mm and Murree 57.0mm. The stations of Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Kot Addu, Khanewal, Skardu, Gwadar, Jiwani, Lasbela, Sibbi, PAF Faisal base (Karachi) and PAF Masroor base (Karachi) remained dry with no rain during the month while the stations of Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Gilgit, Sukkur, Dadu, Sakrand and Nokkundi recorded only traces of rainfall during the month.

Met office data further revealed that the daytime (maximum) temperature at the country-level was 26.30°C, which was 0.37°C warmer than the country-wide average of 25.92°C while the nighttime (minimum) temperature at country level was 11.91°C, which was 2.58°C warmer than the countrywide average of 9.33°C and ranked as the 2nd warmest average minimum temperature for the month in the past 63 years, with the record being 12.22°C in 2011.

The hottest day of the month was observed in Mithi (Sindh) when it recorded a temperature of 39.5°C on November 02, 2023, coincidentally, the same station was the warmest place with a mean monthly maximum temperature of 33.5°C while the coldest temperature of the month, -5.6°C, was recorded in Skardu (GB) on November 17, 2023 and coincidentally, the same station was the coolest place with a mean monthly minimum temperature of -2.2°C.

November 2023 remained 1.24°C, warmer than average with national mean monthly temperature being 19.10°C against the average of 17.87°C and ranked as 8th warmest November (record was 19.87°C in 2011).

The mean monthly maximum (daytime) temperature (26.30°C) recorded at country-level was also +0.37°C warmer than average of 25.92°C. So was the situation in the regions as AJK with 12.87°C (+1.27°C) recorded the 7th highest (record was 13.32 °C in 1977), GB with 9.19°C (+1.04°C) observed the 8th highest (record was 9.94°C in 2002), Balochistan with 19.47 (+1.53) observed the 9th highest (record was 20.27°C in 1999) and KP with 15.70°C (+0.92°C) observed the 9th highest (record was 16.18°C in 1977), Sindh with 24.01°C (+1.30°C) and Punjab with 20.35°C (+0.87°C) also exhibited warmer than average temperatures.

Whereas, the country-level night (minimum) temperature of 11.91°C was significantly warmer (+2.58°C) than average of 9.33°C and stood as the 2nd warmest night-time (minimum) temperature in the month (record was 12.22°C in 2011). Sindh and Punjab both also recorded the 2nd highest with +3.26°C and +3.38°C warmer than average respectively (record was 14.23°C & 18.58°C in 2011). KP with 8.58°C (+1.37 °C) observed the 4th (highest record was 9.26°C in 1977), Balochistan with 11.79°C (+2.58°C) observed the 5th (record was 11.98°C in 1963), AJK with 5.96°C (+1.43 °C) observed the 7th (record was 6.52 °C in 1977) highest minimum (nighttime) temperatures and GB with 1.23°C (+0.24°C) observed slightly warmer than average minimum temperature.

The mean temperature anomalies ranged from -1.3 to +3.9°C, while, that of mean minimum temperature ranged -2.3 to +7.3°C in the country, being considerably higher in western Balochistan, Met office data revealed.

On the other hand, Met officials said continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country. They predicted that mainly cold and dry weather was expected in most plain areas of the country while very cold and partly cloudy in northern districts. They added fog/smog was likely to persist in plain areas of Punjab, KP and upper Sindh during morning and night hours.

Monday’s minimum temperature was recorded at Leh where mercury dropped to -10°C while in Lahore it was 8.6°C and maximum was 22.2°C.