July had below average rainfall

LAHORE:As a result of climate change, July 2024 received near to average rain (-9%) while it stood as the 2nd warmest July during past 64 years.

Data collected from a report issued by the Met office revealed that national area-weighted rainfall, 57.5 mm, of July 2024 was near to average (-9%). The heaviest one-day rainfall of 113.8 mm occurred at Sialkot Airport (Punjab) on July 23 and the same has been the wettest place with monthly total rainfall of 468.2 mm.

The national mean monthly temperature of 32.62°C for Pakistan (with +1.26°C anomaly) was warmer than country-average of 31.36°C and stood 2nd warmest mean temperature during past 64 years (record was 32.63°C in 1969).

A report of the Met office revealed the daytime (maximum) temperature at the country-level was 38.58°C (with +1.39°C anomaly) also warmer than the country-average of 37.19°C and stands 3rd warmest mean maximum temperature during past 64 years (record was 38.68°C in 1969) while the nighttime (minimum) temperature at country level was 26.63°C (with +1.36°C anomaly) also warmer than the countrywide average of 25.27°C and stood warmest ever mean minimum temperature during past 64 years (record was 26.12 °C in 1979).

The report said that the hottest day of the month was observed at Dalbandin & Nokkundi (Balochistan) on 4th July and Turbat (Balochistan) on 7th July when they recorded a maximum temperature of 49°C. Whereas Dalbandin and Nokkundi found to be the warmest places with a mean monthly maximum temperature of 45.1°C.

The coldest night temperature (8.5°C) of the month was recorded at Bagrote (GB) on July 8 whereas Rawalakot happened to be the coolest place with mean monthly minimum temperature of 14.8°C.

The report said July 2024 rainfall was near average with 57.5mm (-9%) for Pakistan as a whole. However, situation varied on regional scale with four of the provinces/regions recorded below-average rainfall while two of the provinces recorded above-normal rainfall, i.e. for AJ&K with 94.7 (-46%) it ranked as 3rd driest July during past 64 years, the GB with only 4.6mm (-65%) and Sindh with 33.8 mm (-44%) observed excessively below average rainfall.

The KP with 84.0mm (-21%) also observed below average rainfall. Punjab with 112.4 mm (+8%) and Balochistan with 34.3mm (+16%) were the only regions to have observed a slightly above average rainfall. The wettest day of the month in the country was 23rd July when 113.8mm rainfall was recorded at Sialkot (Punjab) and incidentally the same station found being the wettest place with a monthly total rainfall of 468.2mm.

A similar trend prevailed at regional scale too: The AJ&K with 27.16 °C (+1.55 °C) and Balochistan with 33.38 °C (+1.52 °C) exhibited ever warmest mean temperatures in the month (record were 26.98 °C in 1976 & 33.35 °C in 1969 respectively). Sindh with 34.27 °C (+1.65 °C) observed 2nd warmest mean temperature in July (record is 34.33 °C in 2020), the report said, adding the KP with 30.08 °C (+0.76 °C) and Punjab with 33.84 °C (+1.10 °C) also placed amongst first ten highest mean temperature ranges during the 64 years period. The GB with 26.57 ° C (-0.04 °C) was the only region having near average anomaly. July 2024 mean-maximum (daytime) temperature of 38.58 °C recorded at country-level with a positive anomaly of +1.39 °C than the country average of 37.19 °C and ranked 3rd highest mean maximum temperature (the record is 38.68 °C in 1969). The AJK with 33.34 °C (+1.98 °C) recorded the ever-highest average maximum temperature in July (record was 33.18°C in 2012).

All other regions except GB also remained amongst first ten warmest range during the past 64 years. The mean maximum temperature anomalies were ranged -1.1 to +4.8 °C in the country with those being considerably higher over AJ&K while the night (minimum) temperature of 26.63 °C (with +1.36 °C anomaly) was also warmer than average of 24.27 °C during the month and stands as warmest-ever night July during the past 64 years (the record was 26.12 °C in 1979).

The province of Sindh with 29.25°C (+1.88 °C), Punjab with 28.63 °C (+1.57 °C) and Balochistan with 26.77°C (+1.43 °C) all exhibited ever highest minimum temperature in July (record were 28.85 °C in 2020, 28.25° in 1991 & 26.5°C in 1979 respectively). All other regions except GB also remained in the first 10 warmest range.

Meanwhile, the Met office said strong monsoon currents were continuously penetrating from Arabian Sea in central and southern parts of the country and likely to enter upper parts from today night.

They predicted that more rain-windstorm/thundershower was expected in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, south/upper Punjab, Pothohar region, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan while heavy falls were likely at isolated places in northeastern/south Balochistan, upper Sindh, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northeast Punjab, Pothohar region and Kashmir.

Rainfall was observed in several cities across the country. Monday’s highest maximum temperature was recorded at Chilas where mercury reached 43°C while in Lahore it was 36°C and minimum was 25.6°C.