List of extreme weather records in Pakistan


The weather extremes in Pakistan include extremely high and extremely low temperatures, heaviest rainfalls and floodings. Pakistan has one of the highest temperature ranges in the world with proven weather conditions ranging from as high as like those in the Sahara desert, to as low as those like in Alaska. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan is 53.5 °C which was recorded in Mohenjo Daro, Sindh and Turbat, Balochistan on 26 May 2010 and 28 May 2017 respectively. It was not only the hottest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan but also the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded on the continent of Asia and the fourth-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. The second-highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan is which was recorded in Larkana, Sindh on 26 May 2010. It is hottest city in Pakistan, as well as the second-hottest city in the world, but it is second-hottest place in Pakistan and fifth-hottest place in the world. It is fifth-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. The highest rainfall of was recorded in Islamabad in 24 hours on 23 July 2001. The record-breaking rain fell in just 10 hours.

Temperature

The standard measuring conditions for temperature are 1.2 meters above the ground out of direct sunlight.

High temperature

Heat waves mostly occur during summer months but in Pakistan heat waves occur at any time period between April and September and bring high temperatures but most powerful heat waves occur in May and June. Some areas of southern Pakistan usually experience above temperature and play havoc in these areas. The most deadly heat wave in the history of Pakistan is the record-breaking heat wave of summer 2010 which occurred in the last ten days of May. Heat spreads through out the north-central part of the country including Punjab and KPK.

List of cities with temperature of 50 °C or above

Temperature extremes in Pakistan over based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020 and other sources
DateTemperature °CCityProvinceNotesReferences
28 May 201753.5 °C
TurbatBalochistan or above was recorded for four consecutive days from 24 to 28 May 2017.
26 May 2010Mohenjo DaroSindhIt was the fourth-highest temperature ever recorded on earth and the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded in the continent of Asia. or above was recorded for four consecutive days from 24 to 27 May 2010.
26 May 2010LarkanaSindhIt was the fifth-highest temperature ever recorded on earth and the second-hottest reliably-measured temperature ever recorded in the continent of Asia and it is the hottest city of Pakistan since 2010. or above was recorded for four consecutive days from 24 to 27 May 2010.
26 May 2010JacobabadSindh or above was recorded for four consecutive days, 24 to 27 May 2010. Event also occurred on 12 June 1919.
26 May 2010SibiBalouchistan or above was recorded for consecutive 5 days from 22 to 26 May 2010. Previously was recorded on June 5, 2003.
12 June 1919JacobabadSindh
31 May 1998LarkanaSindhIt was the highest temperature in 1998.
26 May 2010PadidanSindh or above was recorded for three consecutive days from 24 to 26 May 2010.
19 May 2016LarkanaSindhIt was the highest temperature in Pakistan in 2016. or above was recorded for 4 consecutive days from 17 to 20 May 2016.
30 May 2009TurbatBalouchistan or above was recorded for 5 consecutive days from 26 to 29 May 2009.
26 May 2010NawabshahSindh or above was recorded for 5 consecutive days from 22 to 26 May 2010.
19 May 2013LarkanaSindh
22 May 2010LarkanaSindh
9 June 2007MianwaliPunjab or above was recorded for 2 days, 9 and 10 June 2007.
1 June 1996RohriSindh
28 May 2010DaduSindh was recorded for 2 days, 26 and 27 May 2010.
26 May 2010NoorpurthalPunjab was recorded on May 19, 2011.
25 May 2010SukkurSindh or above was recorded for three consecutive days, 25 to 27 May 2010.
10 June 2007SargodhaPunjab was recorded for 2 days, 9 and 10 June 2007.
15 May 2009LasbellaBalochistan was recorded for 2 days, 15 and 16 May 2009. was also recorded on May 21, 2011.
27 May 2010MultanPunjabRecord temperature in city; previous highest was in 1956.
26 May 2010BahawalnagarPunjab
20 May 2011PasniBalochistan
5 June 1978Dera Ismail KhanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
10 June 2007BannuKhyber Pakhtunkhwa or above was recorded for two days, 9 and 10 June 2007.

List of cities with temperature of 45 °C or above but below 50 °C

Temperature extremes in Pakistan over based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020 and other sources.

Record breaking heat wave of April 2017

A severe heat wave with temperatures as high as hit Pakistan, especially southern parts, in April 2017. This heat wave broke the old temperature records of many cities in the country in the month of April. Larkana, Sindh experienced the highest maximum temperature of on 19 April and broke its old record of which was recorded in April 2000. Other cities of the country also broke their old records of highest maximum temperatures in the month of April.

Recorded temperatures

Extreme temperatures started to affect the parts of the country from mid-April and peaked on 19–20 April.
PlaceTemperatureDate
Larkana19 April
Sukkur20 April
Moenjo Daro19 & 20 April
Dadu20 April
Jacobabad20 April
Nawabshah20 April
Sibi19 & 20 April

Record breaking 2010 summer heat wave

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Asia and the fourth highest temperature ever recorded in the world was in Mohenjo-daro, Sindh at while the second-hottest temperature ever recorded in Asia and the fifth-highest temperature ever recorded in the world was in Larkana, Sindh at on May 26, 2010. Twelve cities in Pakistan saw temperatures above during the extreme heatwave of summer 2010, which lasted from May 22 to May 31, 2010. On May 27, temperatures higher than hit areas across Pakistan and at least 18 people died as a result. Also, during the extreme heatwave season, 11 cities saw their highest-ever recorded temperatures of or above, and five cities saw temperatures of. Eleven cities also saw extremes of more than but below. The previous record for Pakistan and for Asia was on June 12 1919 at at Jacobabad.

Low temperature

Cold waves mostly occur during winter months but in northern and western Pakistan cold waves occur at any time period between October and March and bring low temperatures but most powerful cold waves occur in December and January. Some areas of northern and western Pakistan usually experience below 0 °C temperature and play havoc in these areas.The coldest place in Pakistan can be the glacial parts of Gilgit Baltistan, where in winters the average temperature remains below -20. The K2 Peak has recorded -51 °C. The most deadly cold wave in the recent history of Pakistan is the record-breaking cold wave of winter 2013. Temperatures in the hottest places in Pakistan fell below 5°C or more, as well as cities near the foothills of the Himalayas including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore can record temperatures below freezing. It is not uncommon for Islamabad to receive snow in strong cold spells, the Khyber Hills in Peshawar, Hayatabad can also receive light snowfall.

List of cities with temperature of 0 °C or below

Temperature extremes in Pakistan under based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2016 and other sources.
DateTemperature °CCityProvinceNotesReferences
8 January 1970QuettaBalochistan
1 February 1970QuettaBalochistan
30 December 2013KalatBalochistan
5 February 2008QuettaBalochistan
30 December 2013QuettaBalochistan
26 December 2011KalatBalochistan
23 March 1940IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory
6 January 2006 Mohenjo DaroSindh
17 January 1935LahorePunjab
6 January 2006LarkanaSindh
11 December 1996FaisalabadPunjab
8 February 2012LarkanaSindh

Precipitation

The standard way of measuring Rainfall or Snowfall is the standard Rain gauge, which can be found in 100-mm plastic and 200-mm metal varieties. The inner cylinder is filled by 25 mm of Rain, with overflow flowing into the outer cylinder. Plastic gauges have markings on the inner cylinder down to 0.25 mm resolution, while metal gauges require use of a stick designed with the appropriate 0.25 mm markings. After the inner cylinder is filled, the amount inside it is discarded, then filled with the remaining Rainfall in the outer cylinder until all the fluid in the outer cylinder is gone, adding to the overall total until the outer cylinder is empty.

Rainfall

Pakistan receives Rainfall from both Monsoon and Western Disturbance. Monsoon occurs from July to September and brings heavy Downpour across the country except western Balochistan. Western Disturbances occur from October to May and bring Rainfall across the country with some heavy Downpour in northern Pakistan. But in June Western Disturbances occasionally hit the northern parts of the country. Pre-Monsoon also occurs in this month occasionally but not always.

Heaviest rainfall of 400 mm or above during 24 hours

Record-breaking rainfall extremes in Pakistan over or above during 24 hours, based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2016 and other sources.
DateRainfall Rainfall CityProvinceNotesReferences
23 July 200162024.4IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory Rainfall was recorded in 12 hours, on 23 July 2001 in Islamabad as a result of a Cloudburst. It is the Heaviest rainfall in Islamabad.

Heaviest rainfall of 200 mm or above but below 400 mm during 24 hours

Record-breaking rainfall extremes in Pakistan over or above but below during 24 hours, based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020 and other sources.
DateRainfall Rainfall CityProvinceNotesReferences
11 August 201135013.7Tando Ghulam AliSindh
24 July 200133513.1Rawalpindi PunjabRecord-breaking rainfall in Rawalpindi due to cloudburst.
7 September 201131212.2DiploSindhRecord-breaking rainfall in Diplo.
10 September 201230511.8JacobabadSindhHeaviest 24 hours rainfall while 441 mm rainfall in 36 hours in the month of September.
5 September 201430011.8LahorePunjabHeaviest 24 hours rainfall in the month of September.
5 September 201429611.7JhelumPunjabHeaviest 24 hours rainfall in the month of September.
5 September 201429711.7IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory
10 August 201129111.5MithiSindhRecord-breaking rainfall in Mithi.
29 July 201028011.0RisalpurKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
7 August 1953278.110.95Karachi Sindh
29 July201027410.7PeshawarKhyber PakhtunkhwaRecord-breaking rainfall in Peshawar, previously mm was recorded on 10 April 2009.
5 September 1961264.210.4FaisalabadPunjab
30 July 201025710.1IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory
29 July 201025710.1CheratKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
2 July 1972256.510.1NawabshahSindh
10 September 199225510.0MurreePunjab
5 September 20142519.9ManglaPunjab
5 September 20142519.9SialkotPunjab
12 September 1962250.79.8HyderabadSindh
18 July 20092058.07Karachi SindhOne of the highest 24 hours rainfall.
5 September 20142439.6IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory
30 July 20102409.4KamraPunjab
26 August 20112409.4KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
31 August 20112389.4PadidanSindh
5 September 20142349.2RawalakotAzad Kashmir
27 August 1997233.89.2MurreePunjab
29 July 20102339.1KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
30 July 20102319.1MurreePunjab
6 June 20102278.9GwadarBalouchistanRecord-breaking rainfall in Gwadar.
7 September 20112258.85MithiSindh
13 August 20082218.7LahorePunjab
20 July 20132178.6IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory
1 August 19762118.3LahorePunjab
8 July 20032098.2LarkanaSindhRecord-breaking rainfall in span of 24 hours.
10 September 19922088.2MuzaffarabadAzad Kashmir
1 July 1977207.68.1KarachiSindh
29 July 20072058.0SargodhaPunjab
4 August 20102027.9Dera Ismail KhanKhyber PakhtunkhwaRecord-breaking rainfall in Dera Ismail Khan previously was recorded on 4 July 1994.
11 August 20112007.8Tando Mohammad KhanSindh
11 August 20112007.8Tando Ghulam HaiderSindh
24 July 20012007.8IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory
27 August 19972007.8IslamabadIslamabad Capital Territory

Record-breaking heavy Rainfall of September 2014

An August like Monsoonal moisture hit the country in the first week of the month when a very low air pressure system was formed over Kashmir that moved eastward into Northern Pakistan. The spell caused torrential Rainfall between 1 and 5 September that resulted in devastation to life and property. The last two days of the spell being extremely wet in Pakistan caused River Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej and Indus to overflow their banks.

Heavy Rainfall recorded during the wet spell of September 2014

Heavy Rainfall of more than recorded during the wet spell of September 1 to 5, 2014 in northern Pakistan based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
CityStationsRainfall Rainfall ProvinceNotes
LahoreShahi Qila55721.9PunjabRecord-breaking rainfall for the month.
LahoreMisri Shah53921.2Punjab
LahoreShahdra53821.2Punjab
SialkotCantt 52320.6Punjab
LahoreAirport51820.4Punjab
Rawalakot50720.0Azad Kashmir
SialkotAirport43917.3Punjab
LahoreJail Road43717.2Punjab
Kotli43117.0Azad Kashmir
LahoreUpper Mall42116.6Punjab
RawalpindiChaklala 34513.6PunjabRecord-breaking rainfall for the month.
Mangla34513.6Azad Kashmir
Gujranwala33613.2Punjab
IslamabadZero Point33113.0Islamabad Capital Territory
RawalpindiShamsabad31912.6Punjab
Gujrat31012.0Punjab
IslamabadSaidpur29811.7Islamabad Capital Territory
Okara29311.5Punjab
Dina28411.2Punjab
Murree26210.3Punjab
Faisalabad2289.0Punjab
RawalpindiBokra2228.7Punjab
Jhelum2208.7Punjab
IslamabadGolra Sharif2118.3Islamabad Capital Territory

Record-breaking heavy rainfall of September 2012 in Sindh

After the severe drought conditions in Sindh during the months of July and August, an intense low-pressure area developed in Bay of Bengal in last days of August. The low-pressure area moved towards Sindh and brought torrential rains in Upper Sindh while rainfall, some heavy in other parts of Sindh during the first fortnight of September 2012. Highest rainfall was recorded in Jacobabad with the record of in just 7 days and in just 36 hours. Other records are in Larkana while in Sukkur. Larkana division was worst hit by heavy rainfall.

Heavy rainfall recorded during the wet spell of September 2012 in Sindh

Heavy rainfall of more than recorded during the wet spell of September 5 to 11, 2012 in the province of Sindh particularly in Upper Sindh based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
CityRainfall Rainfall Monsoon spellNotes
Jacobabad48118.9September 5 to 11Record-breaking rainfall for the month and 441 mm in just 36 hours.
Larkana2399.4September 5 to 11Record-breaking rainfall for the month of September.
Sukkur2068.1September 5 to 11Record-breaking rainfall for the month of September.

Record-breaking torrential rainfall of August and September 2011 in Sindh

In the month of July Pakistan received below normal monsoon rains; however, in August and September the country received above normal monsoon rains. A strong weather pattern entered the areas of Sindh from the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat in August and gained strength with the passage of time and caused heavy Downpour. The first Monsoon spell hit the southern parts of Sindh on 10 August. It produced record breaking widespread torrential Rainfall and resulted in floods in district Badin. The second spell hit the areas on 30 August and lasted until 2 September. In the month of September four more consecutive spells of monsoon rainfall devastated the southern parts of the province. The first spell of September hit the already inundated parts of the province on 2 September. Thereafter, the second spell hit on 5 September, the third on 9 September, and the fourth on 12 September 2011. The four spells of Monsoon produced even more devastating torrential Rains in the already affected areas of Sindh.

Heavy rainfall recorded during the wet spells of August and September 2011 in Sindh

Heavy rainfall of more than recorded in the heaviest Monsoon spell in different areas of Sindh province in the months of August and September, 2011 based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
CityRainfall Rainfall Monsoon SpellNotesReferences
Mithi76030.0September 1 to 14Record-breaking rainfall in Mithi.
Mirpur Khas60323.7September 1 to 14Record-breaking rainfall in Mirpur Khas.
Padidan35614.0August 30 to September 4Record-breaking rainfall in Padidan.
Nawabshah353.213.9September 1 to 14Record-breaking rainfall in Nawabshah.
Dadu348.113.7September 1 to 14Record-breaking rainfall in Dadu.
Badin302.111.8August 10 to 14Record-breaking rainfall in Badin.
Chhor26810.6September 1 to 14Record-breaking rainfall in Chhor.
Hyderabad244.29.6September 1 to 14
Karachi212.28.3September 1 to 14

Unprecedented heavy monsoon rains began in the last week of July 2010 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir regions of Pakistan which causes floods in Balochistan and Sindh. The floods which were caused by monsoon rains, and were forecast to continue into early August, were described as the worst in the last 80 years. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said that over of rain fell over a 24-hour period over a number of places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and more was expected. A record-breaking of rain fell in Peshawar in 24 hours, previously of rain was recorded in April 2009. Other record-breaking Rains were recorded in Risalpur, Cherat, Saidu Sharif, Mianwali, and Kohat regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Heavy rainfall recorded during the wet spell of July 2010

Heavy Rainfall of more than recorded during the four-day wet spell of July 27 to 30, 2010 in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
CityRainfall Rainfall Monsoon spellProvinceNotesReferences
Risalpur41516.3July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Islamabad39415.5July 27 to 30Islamabad Capital Territory
Murree37314.6July 27 to 30Punjab
Cherat37214.6July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Garhi Dopatta34613.6July 27 to 30Azad Kashmir
Saidu Sharif33813.3July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawar33313.1July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kamra30812.1July 27 to 30Punjab
Rawalakot29711.7July 27 to 30Azad Kashmir
Muzaffarabad29211.5July 27 to 30Azad Kashmir
Lahore28811.3July 27 to 30Punjab
Mianwali27110.6July 27 to 30Punjab
Lower Dir26310.3July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kohat26210.3July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Balakot25610.0July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sialkot25510.0July 27 to 30Punjab
Pattan2429.5July 27 to 30Azad Kashmir
Dir2319.10July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Gujranwala2228.7July 27 to 30Punjab
Dera Ismail Khan2208.6July 27 to 30Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Rawalpindi2198.6July 27 to 30Punjab

Snowfall

Pakistan receives snowfall from Western Disturbance. Western Disturbances bring snowfall from November to February across the mountainous and hilly areas of the country with some heavy snowfall in northern mountains and hills of Pakistan. Blizzards are common in northern mountains of the country. In February 2017, at least 14 people were killed and 9 injured by an avalanche in the Sher Shall area of Chitral district.

Heaviest snowfall of 40" or above during 24 hours

Record-breaking Snowfall extremes in Pakistan over or above during 24 hours based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020 and other sources.
DateSnowfall Snowfall City or StationProvinceNotesReferences
4 February 201342107Malam JabbaKhyber Pakhtunkhwa

Heaviest snowfall of 20" or above but below 40" during 24 hours

Record-breaking Snowfall extremes in Pakistan over or above but below during 24 hours based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020 and other sources.
DateSnowfall Snowfall City or StationProvinceNotesReferences
4 February 20132460.96KalamKhyber Pakhtunkhwa

Wind

Floods

Pakistan has seen many floods, the worst and most destructive is the recent 2010 Pakistan floods, which swept away the 20% of Pakistan's land, the flood is the result of unprecedented monsoon rains which lasted from 28 July to 31 July 2010. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North eastern Punjab were badly affected during the monsoon rains when dams, rivers and lakes overflowed. By mid-August, according to the governmental Federal Flood Commission, the floods had caused the deaths of at least 1,540 people, while 2,088 people had received injuries, 557,226 houses had been destroyed, and over 6 million people had been displaced. One month later, the data had been updated to reveal 1,781 deaths, 2,966 people with injuries, and more than 1.89 million homes destroyed. The flood affected more than 20 million people exceeding the combined total of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The flood is considered as worst in Pakistan's history affecting people of all four provinces and Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. The climate in Pakistan is very unpredictable and extreme due to its geographical location with tropical plains and the worlds highest peaks. Monsoon can be harsh due to close proximity with the monsoon areas of India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar. Floods in the mountainous regions of the country that cover about 70% of Pakistani Land can experience very dangerous landfall, avalanches, and the glaciers in the most distant and remote parts of the countries can bring danger to nearby villages.
The 2011 Sindh floods began during the Monsoon season in mid-August 2011, resulting from heavy Monsoon Rains in Sindh, Eastern Balochistan, and Southern Punjab. The floods have caused considerable damage; an estimated 270 civilians have been killed, with 5.3 million people and 1.2 million homes affected. Sindh is a fertile region and often called the "breadbasket" of the country; the damage and toll of the floods on the local agrarian economy is said to be extensive. At least 1.7 million acres of arable land has been inundated as a result of the flooding. The flooding has been described as the worst since the 2010 Pakistan floods, which devastated the entire country. Unprecedented torrential monsoon rains caused severe flooding in 16 districts of Sindh province.
The other floods which caused destruction in the history of Pakistan, includes the flood of 1950, which killed 2910 people, On 1 July 1977 heavy Rains and flooding in Karachi, killed 248 people, according to Pakistan meteorological department of Rain fell in 24 hours. In 1992 flooding during Monsoon season killed 1,834 people across the country, in 1993 flooding during monsoon rains killed 3,084 people, in 2003 Sindh province was badly affected due to monsoon rains causing damages in billions, killed 178 people, while in 2007 Cyclone Yemyin submerged lower part of Balochistan Province in sea water killing 380 people. Before that it killed 213 people in Karachi on its way to Balochistan.