Met DG confirms rainfall decrease in River Jhelum catchment areas, increase in River Chenab; says situation resulting in more floods and droughts
LAHORE
During the past several years, monsoon activity is changing its pattern across the country as average monthly rainfall in the catchment areas of River Jhelum has reduced while rainfall has increased in catchment areas of River Chenab, which may put adverse impacts on country’s water storage and agriculture sector in coming years.
Data collected from Meteorological office revealed that in July 2016, Gujranwala remained the wettest station, which recorded 501.3mm rainfall, Islamabad, Sialkot and Murree recorded 358.4mm, 341.5mm and 302.5mm rain respectively while in August 2016, the wettest stations were Malam Jabba (341mm), Lahore (316.8mm), Mandi Bahauddin (291.1mm), Islamabad (265.3mm), Sialkot (262mm), Mangla (256.6mm), Balakot (250.5mm), Kasur (227.4mm) and Garhi Dupatta (201.8mm).
Data further revealed that during the current June, Lahore received a total of 107.6mm rain against the average normal rainfall of 55.1mm, Sialkot received 71.1mm, Multan (36.7mm) and Bahawalpur (32mm) rain, which are above normal. However, the areas of Murree, Islamabad, Jhelum, Garhi Dupatta and Kotli received 114.5mm, 43mm, 34.5mm, 75.3mm and 40.8mm rain respectively, which is below normal than the previous average monthly rainfall of these cities.
“Climate change has affected the monsoon pattern resulting in reduction of rainy days and increase in intensity of rainfall”, said Met Director General Ghulam Rasool while talking to The News here Wednesday. He confirmed that rainfall in catchment areas of River Jhelum has decreased while rainfall in catchment areas of River Chenab has increased.
This shift in monsoon pattern is resulting in more floods and droughts, he said, adding the most wettest area have emerged between Mianwali, Attock and Rawalpindi and this uncontrolled water adds to floods in River Indus. “We need to tap this uncontrolled water so that it could be used for agriculture and other purposes,” he said, adding he had already given this suggestion to the government.
Talking about the harmful impacts of changes in monsoon pattern, he said as the rainfall during monsoon has intensified, it had started reaching upper peaks like Chitral where flash floods played havoc during the last two or three years. He said an early warning system was developed but there was a need of more advanced and comprehensive early warning system for across the country.
On the other hand, city received scattered but heavy rainfall early Wednesday. Rainwater remained stagnant on city roads till evening causing trouble for the commuters and road users.
Meanwhile, Met officials said moist currents from Arabian Sea are penetrating into upper and central parts of the country while westerly wave is affecting most upper and central parts of the country and likely to persist till Thursday.
They predicted that during the next 24 hours more rain-thundershower with gusty winds is expected at scattered places in KP, Fata, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, while at isolated places in Multan, DG Khan, Bahawalpur and Zhob divisions. They predicted that drizzle is expected at few places along Sindh coast while hot and humid weather will be observed elsewhere in the country.
During the last 24 hours, various cities received rain, including Gujranwala 54mm, Noorpur Thal 53mm, Bahawalpur (AP 45mm, City 17mm), Okara 43mm, Mandi Bahauddin, Faisalabad 39mm, Multan, Rahimyar Khan 34mm, Gujrat 33mm, Khanpur 28mm, TT Singh 25mm, Lahore (Punjab University 30mm, PBO 23mm, AP 16mm), Jhang 22mm, Sialkot (AP 21mm, City 13mm), Jhelum 20mm, Kasur 18mm, Mangla 15mm, Kot Addu 13mm, Murree 12mm, Sahiwal 10mm, Bhakkar 08mm, Mianwali 07mm, Sargodha (City 06mm, PAF 06mm), Joharabad 06mm, Chakwal, Bahawalnagar 04mm, Layyah 02mm, Rawalpindi 01mm, Rawalakot 53mm, Muzaffarabad 44mm, Kotli 13mm, Garhi Dupatta 12mm, Barkhan 35mm, Kakul 27mm, Cherat 23mm, Balakot 12mm, Malam Jabba 07mm, Parachinar 06mm, Saidu Sharif, Dir 02mm, Peshawar (City 02mm) and Astore 02mm.
Wednesday’s maximum temperature was recorded at Sibbi where mercury reached 46°C while in Lahore, it was 30°C, minimum was 21.8°C and humidity was 59 percent.