Lahore received more than normal rains in August

LAHORE

The provincial capital, during the current month of August, received more than normal rains while number of rainy days also increased as the result of Met office’s prediction about the phenomenon of climate change.

Data collected from Met office revealed that from 1st of August till date the city received 220.7mm rain in 19 days whereas the historic rainfall in city during this period in previous year was 211.1mm in 12.7 days. Amongst other city areas, the locality of Johar Town received highest accumulated rainfall of 213mm during the ongoing month.

Similarly, from 1st of August till date city’s airport area city received 129.4mm rain in 14 days whereas the historic rainfall recorded at the Lahore airport’s observatory during the same period of previous year was 221mm in 11.7 days.

Met office data further showed that the average normal monthly rainfall in previous months of August were 182.9mm (airport) and 179.4mm (city). Rainfall record of other city areas during the present August showed that a total of 132mm rain was recorded in the Shahi Qila area, 148mm in Misri Shah, 141mm at Upper Mall, 138mm in Shahdara, 166mm in Gulberg, 167mm at Laxmi Chowk, 102mm in Gulshan-e-Ravi, 160.1mm in Iqbal Town and Samanabad each, 213mm in Johar Town, 98.1mm in Township, 109mm in Mughalpura and 128mm in Tajpura.

Other cities of Punjab where above normal rains were recorded during the current month included Faisalabad where 94.1mm rain in eight days was recorded against 87mm of monthly average rain in 5.6 days while highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours in the city was 62mm. In Multan, 41.8mm rain in six days was recorded against 41.8mm monthly average rain in 2.8 days while highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours in the city was 34mm. In Bahawalnagar, 49mm rain in four days was recorded against 34.2mm of monthly average rain in 3.8 days while highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours in the city was 37mm.

In Shorkot, 71.4mm rain was recorded in seven days against 57.4mm of monthly average rain in five days and in Kasur, 39mm rain in three days was recorded against 33.2mm in two days while highest rain in 24 hours during the month was 29mm.

The Met office data revealed that rainfall in Murree had drastically reduced as only 86.5mm rain was recorded in 12 days against the monthly average rainfall of 302.4mm in 17.1 days. Highest rainfall during 24 hours in Murree during the ongoing month was 21mm against 233.8mm of previous years data. Senior Met officials claimed that Asian monsoon was under the strong impact of climate change while Pakistan’s monsoon was altered by climate change. They claimed that monsoon rainfall had shifted westward affecting 25 districts (11 in Punjab and 14 in KP). These districts are now extremely vulnerable to floods/flash floods. Data suggested that annual rainfall in the months of January and February are reducing, rainfall in March, April, May, June, July and August are increasing while rainfall in September, October, November and December is decreasing.

Prevailing weather patterns will adversely affect the agriculture system of the country, said Mahr Sahibzad Khan, Director Met office, Lahore. He said the wet spells had become wetter and would become wettest while the dry spells had become drier and would become driest. Discussing reasons for change in weather patterns he said deforestation, rising levels of pollution, change in land use, rapid urbanisation and unplanned industrialisation were some of the contributing factors in enhancing the impacts of climate change in local conditions. He said the adverse impacts of climate change could be mitigated through massive tree plantation, proper urban planning, introducing stable flood management systems and increase in water storage capacity across the country.

On the other hand, partly cloudy weather was observed in the provincial capital here Friday while Met office predicted rain during the next two days (Saturday and Sunday). They said strong monsoon currents were penetrating in the country and a westerly wave was also expected to grip upper parts of the country during next 24 hours. They said rain/thundershowers with isolated heavy falls expected at a number of places in Punjab, KP, Sindh and Kashmir.

The Met officials warned heavy downpour may trigger flash flooding and landslides in the vulnerable areas of Punjab, Balochistan, KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. The advised the authorities concerned to remain alert during the period. 

On Friday, highest maximum temperature was recorded in Sibbi where mercury reached 42°C while in Lahore, maximum temperature was 34°C and humidity was 56 percent.