CLIMATE OF PAKISTAN: SEASONS, MONSOONS, EXTREME HEAT, REGIONS

CLIMATE OF PAKISTAN

Climate map of Pakistan

Pakistan is a mostly a hot and dry country with a temperate climate in northwest and arctic-like in the north. There are four major seasons: a cool, dry winter, a hot, dry spring,the monsoon in the summer and the and the retreating monsoon period in the fall. The Tropic of Cancer touches the southernmost part of Pakistan. Most of Pakistan is dry. About 75 percent of the country receives less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rain a year. Most rain falls in the Punjab and mountains that face the monsoon. Irrigation is necessary for agriculture.

The climate of Pakistan is characterized wide variations between extremes of temperature at given locations. The coastal area along the Arabian Sea is usually warm, whereas the frozen snow-covered ridges of the Karakoram Range and of other mountains of the far north are so cold year round that they are only accessible by world-class climbers for a few weeks in May and June of each year.[Source: Peter Blood, Library of Congress, 1994*]

Pakistan's climate is dry and hot near the coast, becoming progressively cooler toward the northeastern uplands. The weather in most parts of Pakistan is pleasant from October to March. The winter months (November-February) are the best time to travel in southern Pakistan. The temperatures are relatively mild, the days are bright and sunny, and humidity is low. Winter is more severe in the northern plains and mountains. Frost occur sun the plains in the winter. The mountains often receive quite bit of snow. In most parts of Pakistan The summer months (March-June) are hot and nearly unbearable as the monsoon approaches. Karachi is suffocatingly hot in the summer. This a good time of year to visit the hill stations, the mountains and highlands. .

Average annual precipitation for Pakistan as a whole is 20.4 centimeters (8.0 inches). The average temperature in January is 18.9°C (66.0°F). The average temperature in July: 29.3°C (84.7°F). In the north the capital, Islamabad, has average temperatures ranging from a low of 2°C (35°F) in January to a high of 40°C (104°F) in June. Karachi in the south has average temperatures varying from a low of 13°C (55°F) in winter to a high of 34°C (93°F) in summer. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, The Gale Group Inc., 2003; Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Thomson Gale. 2007]

Seasons and Rainfall in Pakistan

Temperature map of Pakistan

Pakistan has are four seasons: a cool, dry winter from December through February; a hot, dry spring from March through May; the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon period, from June through September; and the retreating monsoon period of October and November. The onset and duration of these seasons vary somewhat according to location. [Source: Peter Blood, Library of Congress, 1994*]

Central Pakistan has a hot summer and mild winter. The summer monsoon brings relief from the heat, although humidity levels can exceed 80 percent. June and July are the hottest months with temperatures often reaching over 40°C (104°F) Most areas in Punjab experience fairly cool winters, often accompanied by rain. Woolen shawls are worn by women and men for warmth because few homes are heated. By mid-February the temperature begins to rise; springtime weather continues until mid-April, when the summer heat sets in. The onset of the southwest monsoon is anticipated to reach Punjab by May, but since the early 1970s the weather pattern has been irregular. The spring monsoon has either skipped over the area or has caused it to rain so hard that floods have resulted.

June and July are oppressively hot. Although official estimates rarely place the temperature above 46° C (115°F), newspaper sources claim that it reaches 51° C (124°F) and regularly carry reports about people who have succumbed to the heat. Heat records were broken in Multan in June 1993, when the mercury was reported to have risen to 54° C (129°F). In August the oppressive heat is punctuated by the rainy season, referred to as barsat, which brings relief in its wake. The hardest part of the summer is then over, but cooler weather does not come until late October.

Average annual rainfall also varies widely across Pakistan. The average annual rainfall on Pakistan's plains is just 13 centimeters (5 inches), while in the highlands it is 89 centimeters (35 inches). Hailstorms are common, and it snows in the north in winter. . Karachi receives about 150 millimeters (6 inches) of precipitation annually, compared with about 380 millimeters (15 inches) in Peshawar, 460 millimeters (18 inches) in Lahore, and approximately 760 millimeters (30 inches) in Islamabad. Most rainfall occurs during the summer monsoon season from July to September, although parts of Punjab and northwestern Pakistan also receive precipitation from winter weather systems. [Source: Cities of the World, The Gale Group Inc., 2002]

Monsoon Season and Storms in Pakistan

Precipitation map of Pakistan: Normal rainfall map of Pakistan based on the empirical Bayesian kriging regression prediction (EBKRP) method for interpolation; the inset scatter-plot shows the measured versus predicted values; The pink line shows the R2 for the predicted values; The shades in brown represent drier areas (relatively less rainfall) and green-to-blue shades show comparatively wet areas (relatively more rainfall); Red dots indicate the observation stations Researchgate

The Monsoon Season (June to September) is still a good time to visit Pakistan. The monsoons begin in late June or early July on the coast of Pakistan, and gradually break at all parts of the country. Some years the monsoons are light and some regions receives little or no rain. Other years the monsoon are heavy and hundreds of people are killed in floods and rain-induced landslide. The monsoon-drenched regions generally receive the most precipitation in August, September and October.

Pakistan does not experience the full force of the monsoons. Rainfall amounts vary from near zero in desert to 15 to 30 inches a year in the north. Rains tend to fall in short afternoon downpours. The countryside in many places is lush and green and beautiful but the dirt roads in remote areas may become impassable. In the drier months, road travel is easier but the countryside is often brown and dusty. The monsoon in Pakistan coincides more or less with the monsoon season in India but arrives later and finishes earlier. The cyclone season is from June to October. Most cyclones hit the Bay of Bengal between Bangladesh and the east coast of India. Occasionally some strike the Arabian Sea near Pakistan.

Between June and September, the monsoon provides an average rainfall of about 38 centimeters (15 inches) in the river basins and up to about 150 centimeters (60 inches) in the northern areas. The monsoon season generally does not affect the far northern areas of Pakistan and parts of the Sindh and Baluchistan. Rainfall can vary substantially from year to year, and intervals of flooding and drought are not uncommon.. In recent decades, Punjab has experienced significant variations in monsoon rainfall, ranging from droughts to floods. In February 2003, heavy rains killed at least 20 people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Seven were killed when a passenger bus was swept off a hill. Many homes were destroyed when flood swept away a small dam. A three year drought in South Asia in the late 1990s provoked a massive exodus from the deserts to the cities. Irrigation canals and lakes dried up. Agriculture declined in some areas by as much as 70 percent.

The monsoon has the most profound affect on the Punjab. Two thirds of the annual rainfall occurs during the June-to-September monsoon season. The amount of rain that falls decreases as one moves farther away from the Himalayas. Near the edge of Himalayas, rainfall amounts often exceed 100 centimeters (40 inches) a year. In Lahore, about 100 kilometers (63 miles) from the Himalayan foothills, the rainfall is around 50 centimeters a year (20 inches) a year; at Multa about 500 kilometers (315 miles) away, the rainfall is about 18 centimeters (seven inches). Half of the annual rainfall of Islamabad occurs in July and August, averaging about 25.5 centimeters (10 inches) in each of those two months. In Karachi only July and August average more than 2.5 centimeters (one inch) of rain

Monsoons of South Asia

Normals of monsoon over Pakistan. Researchgate

The monsoons in India form two branches: the first sweeps from the Arabian Sea and drenches the Malabar coast of western India and the then sweeps down towards Sri Lanka. The second moves northward from the Bay of Bengal and drenches Bangladesh and eastern Indian and then curves off towards the northwestern part of India.

The monsoons result from the contrasts between low and high air pressure areas that result from differential heating of land and water. During the hot months of April and May hot air rises over the Indian subcontinent, creating low-pressure areas into which rush cooler, moisture-bearing winds from the Indian Ocean. This is the southwest monsoon, commencing in June and usually lasting through September. Dividing against the Indian landmass, the monsoon flows in two branches, one of which strikes western India. The other travels up the Bay of Bengal and over eastern India and Bangladesh, crossing the plain to the north and northeast before being turned to the west and northwest by the foothills of the Himalayas. [Source: James Heitzman and Robert Worden, Library of Congress, 1989 *]

The monsoons provide India and its South Asian neighbors with about 90 centimeters (35 inches or rain), about 80 percent of the annual rainfall. Monsoon rain is an import source of drinking water, agricultural water and irrigation water. It is vital for filing up wells and aquifers. Many dams have in South Asia have been built so its water can be stored and used the entire year and also harnessed for hydroelectric power.

Since temperatures in South Asia and can be very hot preceding the monsoon with temperature often exceeding 38°C (100°F) the "wet" monsoon brings much-needed relief. The region’s agricultural industry and economy rely on the summer monsoon, which provides up to 80 per cent of annual rainfall. Heavy monsoon seasons can bring a lot of rain in a relatively short period of time, producing floods and landslides, and destroying crops and villages. At the same time a failed monsoon can be just as destructive, resulting in severe, long-lasting droughts.

Desert Climate in Pakistan

Areas of Pakistan that regularly receive snow

The semi desert areas of Sindh and Baluchistan have extreme summer temperatures. Sibi is the hottest place with temperatures sometimes reaching 50°C (122°F). Quetta in Baluchistan has severe winter with cold dry winds.

In the deserts in eastern Pakistan the high temperatures are in the lower 20s C (70s F) during November and December, and in the upper 20s (80s F) from January through April and September and October. From May to August it is extremely hot. It is not unusual for the temperature to hit 49°C (120° F). The air in the desert is generally dry and the humidity is low. Many places go years without seeing any rain and when it does rain it comes in a deluge. The temperatures in the desert can also drop quite low at night. In the northern desert temperature can drop below freezing as late as April.

Similar meteorological phenomena create deserts around the world. Beginning at the equator, rainy tropical hot air rises and sheds its moisture as it cools. The cooled air begins to subside and warm up again between 15̊ and 30̊ north latitude. The subsiding air is too dry for clouds and rain to form. This sub tropical high-pressure belt parches the east from the Sahara through the Middle East and into northwestern India and Pakistan. A similar belt south of the Equator leads to the arid sands of the Kalahari and Namib Deserts of Africa as well as the deserts of Peru, Chile, and Australia's barren outback. [Source: " "The Desert, an Age -Old Problem Grows" by Rick Gore, November 1979]

The Thar Desert in eastern Pakistan receives most of its limited rainfall from the southwest summer monsoon, which occurs between July and September. Although it is one of the driest regions in South Asia, about 80 to 90 percent of its annual precipitation falls during this short monsoon season. Rainfall in the Thar is highly variable and unpredictable. Annual precipitation ranges from less than 10 centimeters (4 inches) in the western desert to about 50 to 60 centimeters (20–24 inches) along its eastern margins. The irregular nature of the monsoon often results in prolonged dry periods, and some areas may experience years with little or no significant rainfall, making drought a frequent feature of the region's climate.

Regional Climates of Pakistan

Seasonal temperatures vary considerably across Pakistan's major geographic regions. With the exception of the far northern mountains, summers are generally very hot, with temperatures commonly ranging from 32°C to 49°C (90°F to 120°F), often remaining warm at night. In Karachi, conditions are moderated somewhat by sea breezes from the Arabian Sea, although humidity levels can be high. A cooler season occurs between December and February throughout much of the country. [Source: Cities of the World, The Gale Group Inc., 2002]

The coastal areas are hot and humid. Rainfall is low but the cooling sea breeze moderates the coastal climate throughout the year. Northern Pakistan has mild summers. However, the dry northern valleys of the Indus and Gilgit rivers in the Karakoram get very hot when heat radiates off the barren mountains. Winter here is severe, with high snowfall and glaciation.

Along the western border and in a section of the north there are semiarid steppelands and desert. A subtropical climate with marked summer rainfall is found in a small section of the northeast along the Himalayan foothills. A mountain climate that varies with altitude is found in the north. Mountains bring snowmelt water and life to a parched nation. [Source: Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., The Columbia University Press]

In the northern cities of Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, winter is more pronounced than in southern Pakistan. Daytime temperatures often fall to 16°C (60°F) or lower, and nighttime temperatures can approach freezing. Light frosts occasionally occur in Islamabad and Peshawar. Spring and autumn are generally characterized by mild temperatures and relatively pleasant weather conditions. Climate in the far northern mountains is strongly influenced by elevation. Lower valleys experience mild to warm summers, while temperatures decrease sharply with altitude. The highest peaks and glaciers remain snow-covered throughout the year, and many areas at high elevations experience permanent ice and snow.

Climates on Pakistan's Most Populated Areas

Climate of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan in the north, varies from an average daily low of 2°C (35 °F) in January to an average daily high of 40°C (104°F) in June. Half of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August, averaging about 25.5 centimeters (10 inches) in each of those two months. The remainder of the year has significantly less rain, amounting to about fifty millimeters per month. Hailstorms are common in the spring.[Source: Peter Blood, Library of Congress, 1994*]

Climate of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, is more humid than Islamabad but gets less rain. Only July and August average more than 2.5 centimeters (one inch) of rain in the Karachi area; the remaining months are exceedingly dry. The temperature is also more uniform in Karachi than in Islamabad, ranging from an average daily low of 13°C (55.4°F) during winter evenings to an average daily high of 34°C (93 °F) on summer days. Although the summer temperatures do not get as high as those in Punjab, the high humidity causes the residents a great deal of discomfort.

Climate of Sindh , which includes Karachi, is characterized by extremes. The mean maximum June temperature in Jacobabad in northern Sindh is 45.5°C (114°F). Jacobabad has also recorded the highest temperature on the Indian subcontinent, at 53°C (127°F). Temperatures drop to 2°C (36°F) in winter and fall below freezing at higher elevations. Annual rainfall averages less than 20 centimeters (eight inches) and in some places is less than 10 centimeters (4 inches). Thorn scrub, acacias, and tamarisk are the only vegetation that grows in these conditions.

Climate of the Punjab is temperate with the hottest season from May to June when temperatures sometimes exceed 40 degrees C. The coolest months are in February, when nighttime frosts occur. Two thirds of the annual rainfall occurs during the June-to-September monsoon season. The amount of rain that falls decreases as one moves farther away from the Himalayas. Near the edge of Himalayas, rainfall amounts often exceed 100 centimeters (40 inches) a year. In Lahore, about 100 kilometers (63 miles) from the Himalayan foothills, the rainfall is around 50 centimeters a year (20 inches) a year; at Multa about 500 kilometers (315 miles) away, the rainfall is about 18 centimeters (seven inches).

Climate in the Karakoram Range and Far Northern Pakistan

The Karakoram Range occupies northern Pakistan and extends into India, China, and Afghanistan. It contains some of the highest mountains on Earth, including K2, which rises to 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). The region's climate is strongly influenced by altitude, resulting in large differences in temperature and precipitation over relatively short distances. Weather conditions range from arid valley climates to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations.

The lower valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, including areas around Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu, generally have a cold desert climate. Annual precipitation is low, often less than 100 millimeters (4 inches), because the surrounding mountains block moist air masses. Summers are typically warm, with daytime temperatures commonly reaching 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), while winter temperatures frequently fall below freezing. Snowfall is usually limited at valley floors but increases rapidly with elevation.

At elevations between about 3,000 and 5,000 meters (9,800 and 16,400 feet), temperatures are considerably lower and seasonal contrasts are more pronounced. Summer days may be mild, but nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing even during the warmest months. Winter conditions are severe, with temperatures commonly falling below -20°C (-4°F). Many high-altitude settlements, glacier approaches, and mountain passes remain snow-covered for much of the year.

The highest parts of the Karakoram experience an alpine and polar climate. Above approximately 5,700 meters (18,700 feet), average temperatures remain below freezing throughout the year. At elevations above 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), extreme cold, low oxygen levels, and strong winds create conditions similar to those found in polar regions. Winter temperatures on the upper slopes of major peaks can fall below -40°C (-40°F), while hurricane-force winds associated with the subtropical jet stream frequently affect the highest mountains.

The region receives most of its precipitation from winter and spring storm systems known as western disturbances, which originate over the Mediterranean and Central Asia. These systems bring heavy snowfall to the high mountains and glaciers. Although valley areas remain relatively dry, snowfall at higher elevations feeds extensive glacier systems, including the Baltoro, Biafo, and Siachen glaciers. As a result, the Karakoram contains one of the largest concentrations of ice outside the polar regions.

Suri Jagek (Observing the Sun)

Suri Jageki is a traditional Kalash meteorological and astronomical practice that was inscribed in 2018 on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Kalash are a small ethnic group that practices animism and lives in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border in the Birir, Bumburet and Rambur valleys off of the Chitral Valley..According to UNESCO: Suri Jagek, literally translated as ‘observing the sun’, is the traditional Kalasha meteorological and astronomical knowledge system and practice — enacted predominantly in the Hindu Kush mountain range — based on the observation of the sun, moon, stars and shadows with respect to the local topography. [Source: UNESCO]

The system is a complex structure of empirically observed knowledge and is repeatedly referenced to allow the Kalasha people to predict the appropriate time for sowing seeds, animal husbandry and natural calamities. It is also used to govern the Kalasha calendar by determining the dates of important social events, festivals, feasts and religious ceremonies. The practice demonstrates the relationship of the Kalasha people with their surroundings and the importance of their immediate geographical context to sustain their way of life.

The viability and transmission of the knowledge system rest on an innovative transfer of information through folk stories, songs, proverbs and rhetoric and certain aspects of it — such as the study of shadows and its use in rearing cattle and livestock — are being recreated to fit into modern society. However, with the advent of the digital age, people are increasingly opting for more technologically ‘advanced’ means of predicting weather conditions. While the practice remains visible as an oral tradition, there is currently a lack of awareness among the younger generation about its cultural significance and benefits.

500 Die in Rough Pakistan Winter in 2004-2005

High winds, heavy rain and fierce blizzards in the winter of 2004-2005 left at least 500 people dead in northern Pakistan and Kashmir. Many of the victims died in avalanches and landslides in northwest Pakistan. It was the worst winter in 40 years. The snow depths in some places reached 21 meters (69 feet).

The dead included people swept away by avalanches and landslides and families whose roofs collapsed under the weight of heavy snow. In February 2005, 38 villagers were killed in avalanches in the Neelum Valley, about 100 kilometers (63 miles) northeast of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

In February 2005, heavy rain and run off caused the 150-meter-long Shakidor Dam to burst near Asni village in a remote southwestern Baluchistan, killing 250 people. Torrents of water surged through the streets of Uthai and hundreds of people were swept out into the Arabian Sea. Scores more were killed in floods un the area.

Intense Heat Waves in Pakistan

Pakistan has experienced some of the most intense heat waves in South Asia, particularly during the pre-monsoon months of April, May, and June. Temperatures frequently rise above 40°C (104°F) across much of the country, and in some years have exceeded 50°C (122°F) in parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. These extreme conditions place severe stress on public health, water supplies, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. Heat waves are often worsened by drought, high humidity in coastal areas, and widespread electricity shortages that limit access to cooling. [Source: ucanews.com, June 24, 2015; Pamela Constable, Washington Post, June 28, 2017; Jibran Ahmad and Sumit Khanna, Reuters, April 29, 2022]

Several major heat waves have caused significant loss of life. In 2006, temperatures reached 51°C (124°F) in parts of eastern Pakistan, contributing to more than 90 deaths from dehydration, heatstroke, and related illnesses. During another heat wave in Punjab in July of that year, temperatures climbed to 46°C (115°F), and dozens of people died within a single day. Elderly people, outdoor laborers, and individuals without access to air conditioning or reliable electricity are particularly vulnerable during periods of extreme heat.

One of the deadliest heat waves in Pakistan's history occurred in June 2015, when temperatures in Karachi rose to about 45°C (113°F), the highest levels recorded there in decades. More than 1,200 people died during the event, and thousands of others required medical treatment for heatstroke and dehydration. The crisis was aggravated by frequent power outages that disrupted fans, air conditioners, and water pumping systems. The heat wave coincided with the Islamic month of Ramadan, when many people were fasting during daylight hours, further increasing the risk of dehydration.

Extreme heat also has significant economic and environmental impacts. High temperatures increase demand for electricity, often leading to load shedding and power shortages. Agricultural production can suffer as crops, livestock, and water resources come under stress. In northern Pakistan, unusually warm conditions accelerate the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Karakoram ranges, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and flash flooding. Scientists have warned that climate change is likely to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves across Pakistan in coming decades, making extreme heat an increasingly important environmental and public health challenge.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (tourism.gov.pk), Official Gateway to the Government of Pakistan (pakistan.gov.pk), “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992, National Geographic,, CIA World Factbook, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated June 2026