Pakistan
/ Climate
Although
the country is in the monsoon region, it is arid, except for the
southern slopes of the Himalayas and the sub-Mountainous tract
which have a rainfall from 76 to 127 cm.
Balochistan
is the driest part of the country with an average rainfall of
21 cm. On the southern ranges of the Himalayas, 127 cm. of precipitation
takes place, while under the lee of these mountains (Gilgit and
Baltistan) rainfall is hardly 16 cm. Rainfall also occurs from
western cyclonic distrubances originating in the Mediterranean.
It is appreciable
in the western mountains and the immediate forelying area; here
the rainfall average ranges from 27 to 76 cm. The contribution
of these western disturbances to rainfall over the plains is about
4 cm. A large part of the precipitation in the northern mountain
system is in the form of snow which feeds the rivers. The all-pervasive
aridity over most of Pakistan, the predominant influence on the
life and habitat of the people, coupled with the climatic rhythm,
characteristic of a monsoon climate, are conducive to homogeneity
of the land.
Seasons
The four
well-marked seasons in Pakistan are:-
(i) Cold season (December to March).
(ii) Hot season (April to June).
(iii) Monsoon season (July to September).
(iv) Post-Monsoon season (October and November).
The cold
season sets in by the middle of December. This period is characterised
by fine weather, bracing air-low humidity and large diurnal range
of temperature. Winter distrubances in this season accordingly
cause fairly widespread rain. Average mimimum and maximum temperatures
are 4 oC and 18 oC, though on occasions the mercury falls well
below freezing point.
The winter
sun is glorious. The hot season is usually dry. Relative humidity
in May and June varies from 50 per cent in the morning to 25 per
cent or less in the afternoon. The temperature soars to 40 oC
and beyond. The highest recorded temperature at Jaccobabad in
June is 53 oC. While the interior is blazing hot, the temperature
along the sea coast ranges between 25 oC to 35 oC, but the humidity
persists around 70 to 80 per cent.
The south-west
monsoon reaches Pakistan towards the beginning of July and establishes
itself by the middle of the month. The strength of the monsoon
current increases form June to July; it then remains steady, and
starts retreating towards the end of August, though occasionally,
it continues to be active even in September when some of the highest
floods of the Indus Basin have been recorded. From the middle
of September to the middle of November is the transitory period
which may be called the post-monsoon season.
In October,
the maximum temperature is of the order of 34 oC to 37 oC all
over Pakistan, while the nights are fairly cool with the minimum
temperature around 16 oC. In the month of November, both the maximum
and the mimimum temperatures fall by about 6 oC and the weather
becomes pleasant. October and November are by far the driest months
all over the plains of Pakistan.
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