October 2023 ranked 9th highest rainfall October in 63 years

LAHORE: National rainfall with 16.1mm for the month of October 2023 was excessively above average (+102%) and ranked the month as 9th highest October rainfall during past 63 years.

Data of Met office revealed that with 27.1mm, it was the 3rd highest October rainfall in Punjab. Climatologically, the October rainfall contribution to the national annual total and post-monsoon was 2.7% and 30.2%, respectively.

During the month, Pakistan experienced 3/4 light to moderate rainfall spells. The data showed that on regional scale Punjab with 27.1mm (+234%) observed the 3rd highest October rainfall, Balochistan with 9.8mm (+230%) observed the 7th highest October rainfall, GB with 15.3mm (+96%) observed the 8th highest October Rainfall and AJK with 49.4mm (+59%) while in contrast, the Sindh only witnessed 1.4mm (-67%), which was below average rainfall.

The wettest day of the month in the country was 15th October when Lahore Airport (Punjab) recorded 83.0mm of rainfall. Coincidentally, the same station was the wettest place with a monthly total rainfall of 143.0mm.

The other significant rainfalls were recorded at Risalpur 123.0mm, Malam Jabba 120.0mm, Lahore-City 112.6mm, Cherat 112.0mm, Narowal 107.4mm, Muzaffarabad Airport 92.6mm, Kakul 91.0mm, Rawalakot 90.9mm, Muzaffarabad City 89.0mm, Chakwal 88.6mm and Sialkot Cantt 86.0mm. The stations; Badin, Karachi A/P, Rohri, Sukkur, Mohen-Jo-Daro, Thatta, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Jiwani, Faisal and Masroor Bases, Karachi remained absolutely dry with no rain during the month.

The stations of Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Tandojam, Gwadar, Nokkundi, Sibbi, Turbat and Ormara recorded only traces of rainfall during the month.

The data further showed that the national mean monthly temperature of October 2023 for Pakistan as a whole was 24.59°C, being 1.00°C warmer than the average (23.59°C). The daytime (maximum) temperature at the country-level was 31.72°C, which was 0.19°C slightly warmer than the country-wide average of 31.53°C.

The nighttime (minimum) temperature at country level was 17.38°C, which was 2.15°C warmer than the countrywide average of 15.24°C and ranked as the 3rd warmest average minimum temperature for the month in the past 63 years, with the record being 18.17°C in 2013.

The data also showed that the hottest day of the month was observed in Turbat (Balochistan) when it recorded a temperature of 45°C on October 04, 2023, while Shaheed Benazirabad (Sindh) was the warmest place with a mean monthly maximum temperature of 38.5°C.

The coldest temperature of the month -1.5°C was recorded in Kalam (KP) on October 18, 2023. Coincidentally, the same station was the coolest place with a mean monthly minimum temperature of 2.1°C.

Rain forecast

The Met office said that a westerly wave was present over the country. They predicted that scattered rain may occur at various parts of the country on Monday (today). Sunday’s minimum temperature was recorded at Leh where mercury dipped at -5°C, while in Lahore, it was 16.3°C and maximum was 29°C.