Met Office report : Climate change in action as Sept 2025 among hottest, wettest months in decades

LAHORE: September 2025 experienced above-average rainfall, accompanied by an increase in both average maximum and minimum temperatures nationwide.

Environmentalists attributed the changing weather patterns to climate change. They urged the government to take urgent measures for mitigation, including large-scale tree plantation and a strict ban on deforestation, particularly in the northern areas.

According to a report issued by the MET Office on September’s weather, the national area-weighted rainfall stood at 32.5 mm, which was significantly above average, reflecting a positive anomaly of +52%. The national mean temperature of 29.13°C was warmer than the long-term average of 27.98°C, with an anomaly of +1.1°C, making it the fifth warmest September in the past 65 years.

On a regional scale, similar warming trends were recorded: AJK: 24.71°C (+2.3°C), the highest in 65 years (previous record: 24.43°C in 2019), Gilgit-Baltistan: 23.59°C (+2.1°C), second highest in 64 years (record: 24.99°C in 1961), Balochistan: 29.61°C (+1.7°C), third highest in 65 years (record: 30.11°C in 1983), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 27.07°C (+1.3°C), sixth warmest in 65 years (record: 27.61°C in 1961), Punjab: 30.42°C (+0.4°C), and Sindh: 30.61°C (+0.2°C), both recorded warmer-than-average conditions.

Temperature anomalies ranged from -0.9°C to +4.5°C across the country, with western Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan showing the highest deviations.

At the national level, the daytime (maximum) temperature averaged 35.01°C, slightly above average (+0.5°C), while the nighttime (minimum) temperature averaged 23.18°C, significantly higher (+2.2°C) than the long-term mean of 21.02°C, ranking as the third highest in 65 years.

Regionally, diverse trends were observed: AJK: 30.99°C (+2.2°C), second highest in 65 years, Gilgit-Baltistan: 31.74°C (+2.6°C), fifth highest (record: 34.44°C in 1987), Balochistan: 36.11°C (+1.1°C), 10th highest (record: 37.23°C in 1983), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 33.21°C (+0.8°C), above average,

In contrast, Sindh: 35.07°C (-1.1°C), the seventh lowest in 65 years (record: 33.15°C in 2011), and Punjab: 35.39°C (-0.5°C), both recorded cooler-than-average maximum temperatures.

According to the report, the monthly mean minimum (nighttime) temperature of 23.18°C was significantly warmer (+2.2°C) than the 21.02°C long-term average, ranking as the third highest in 65 years (record: 23.30°C in 2019).

Regionally, warmer-than-average minimum temperatures were recorded across all areas: AJK: 18.34°C (+2.3°C) and Balochistan: 23.01°C (+2.9°C), both ranked as the highest on record (previous highs: 18.31°C in 1961 and 22.75°C in 1983), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 20.91°C (+1.7°C), second highest in 65 years (record: 21.87°C in 1961), Sindh: 26.10°C (+1.6°C), fifth highest (record: 27.34°C in 2021), Punjab: 25.40°C (+1.9°C), and Gilgit-Baltistan: 15.39°C (+1.2°C), both ranked sixth highest (records: 26.35°C in 2019 and 17.33°C in 1961).

The hottest day of the month was observed at Turbat (Balochistan) on September 29, when the temperature reached 46°C. Sibi (Balochistan) was the warmest station overall, with a mean monthly maximum of 28°C. The coldest night was recorded at Malam Jabba (KP) on September 26 at 7°C, while Skardu (GB) was the coldest station overall, with a mean monthly minimum of 11.3°C.

Rainfall patterns were also significant. The heaviest single-day rainfall was 110 mm at Thatta (Sindh) on September 10, which also emerged as the wettest station of the month, recording 197 mm in total. The monsoon began retreating on September 20 and fully withdrew from the country by September 22, the report concluded.