Pakistan Witnesses 51% More Rainfall During Monsoon: Report

APP

Lahore: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has released a comprehensive report on the 2024 monsoon season, revealing record-breaking rainfall and temperature anomalies across the country, particularly in Punjab.

According to the PMD report, from July 1 to August 30, Pakistan experienced 51 percent more rainfall than the average, with several regions witnessing unprecedented downpours while others recorded higher-than-normal temperatures.

The heaviest rainfall increases were observed in Balochistan and Sindh, which saw 111 percent and 108 percent more rain than usual, respectively.

Punjab also faced a significant 48 percent rise in rainfall, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan saw moderate increases of 5 percent and 2 percent above normal. In contrast, Azad Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 21 percent decrease in rainfall compared to the seasonal average.

The normal monsoon rainfall in Pakistan is typically around 212mm; however, 2024’s totals far surpassed expectations. Lahore alone recorded a staggering 951.1mm of rain throughout the season, with 603mm falling in August.

Notably, on August 1, Lahore airport received 337mm of rainfall in a single day—the highest recorded single-day rainfall in Pakistan’s history.

The report also highlighted temperature shifts, with the average monsoon temperature 0.71°C above normal, marking it the fourth-hottest monsoon season in the past 64 years.

These climate extremes further underscore Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to changing weather patterns.