Extreme weather in Pakistan includes everything from heavy rainfall and flooding to extremely low or extremely high temperatures. Pakistan has one of the highest temperature ranges in the world (temperature range refers to the difference between the highest and lowest recorded temperatures of a certain area). Temperatures can range from as high as those in the Sahara Desert, to as low as those in Alaska, making it one of the most climatically diverse countries in the world. The highest temperature that has ever been recorded in Pakistan is , which was recorded in Turbat, Balochistan, and Moenjo Daro, Sindh, on 28 May 2017 and 26 May 2010 respectively. It was not only the hottest temperature ever to be recorded in Pakistan, but it was also the hottest reliably measured temperature that has ever been recorded on the continent of Asia, and it was the fourth-highest temperature that has ever been recorded on Earth. On 23 July 2001, a rainfall of 620 millimetres (24 in) was recorded in Islamabad; the rain fell in just 10 hours.
Temperature Temperature is measured, as standard, at 1.2 meters above ground, and out of direct sunlight (hence the term x degrees "in the shade").
High temperatures In Pakistan, heat waves can occur at any time between April and September; the most powerful ones occur in May and June. Areas of southern Pakistan often experience temperatures above . The most deadly heat wave in Pakistan's history was the record-breaking heat wave of May 2010. Heat spreads throughout the north-central part of the country, including the Punjab and KPK.
List of cities with temperature of 50 °C or above This list is based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2022, along with other sources. Date Temperature °C City Province Notes References 28 May 2017 53.7 °C (129.2 °F) Turbat Balochistan The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially evaluated temperature record extremes of in Turbat, Pakistan, on 28 May 2017. 26 May 2010 53.5 °C (129.2 °F)Mohenjo-DaroSindh Larkana This was the fifth-highest temperature that has ever been recorded on Earth and the second-hottest reliably-measured temperature to be recorded on the continent of Asia. Larkana has been Pakistan's hottest city since 2010. or above was recorded on four consecutive days from 24 to 27 May 2010. Sibi Balochistan or above was recorded on five consecutive days between 22 and 26 May 2010. Previously, was recorded on June 5, 2003. 12 June 1919 Jacobabad Sindh 31 May 1998 Larkana This was the highest recorded temperature in 1998. 26 May 2010 Padidan or above was recorded on three consecutive days from 24 to 26 May 2010. 19 May 2016 Larkana It was the highest recorded temperature in Pakistan in 2016. or above was recorded for four consecutive days from 17 to 20 May 2016. 30 May 2009 Turbat Balochistan or above was recorded for five consecutive days from 26 to 29 May 2009. 26 May 2010 Nawabshah Sindh or above was recorded for five consecutive days from 22 to 26 May 2010. 19 May 2013 Larkana 22 May 2010 9 June 2007 Bhakkar Punjab or above was recorded for two consecutive days on the 9 and 10 June 2007. 1 June 1996 Rohri Sindh 28 May 2010 Dadu was recorded for two days, 26 and 27 May 2010. 26 May 2010 Noorpurthal Punjab was recorded on May 19, 2011. 25 May 2010 Sukkur Sindh or above was recorded for three consecutive days, 25 to 27 May 2010. 10 June 2007 Sargodha Punjab was recorded for 2 days, 9 and 10 June 2007. 15 May 2009 Lasbella Balochistan was recorded for 2 days, 15 and 16 May 2009. was also recorded on May 21, 2011. 27 May 2010 Multan Punjab Record temperature in city; previous highest was in 1956. 26 May 2010 Bahawalnagar 20 May 2011 Pasni Balochistan 20 June 1986 Dera Ghazi Khan Punjab or above was recorded for three consecutive days from 20 June 1986. 5 June 1978 Dera Ismail Khan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 10 June 2007 Bannu or above was recorded for two days, 9 and 10 June 2007.
List of cities with temperature of 45 °C or above but below 50 °C This list is based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020, and other sources. Date Temperature °C City Province Notes 20 April 2017 Sukkur Sindh This was a record breaking temperature for the month of April.
Record breaking heat wave of April 2017
A severe heat wave with temperatures as high as hit Pakistan, especially its southern areas, in April 2017. This heat wave broke the old temperature records of many cities in the country for the month of April. Larkana, Sindh, experienced the highest maximum temperature of on 19 April and broke its old record of , which was recorded in April 2000. Other cities of the country also broke their old records of highest maximum temperatures in the month of April.
Recorded temperatures Extreme temperatures started to affect these parts of the country from mid-April and peaked on 19–20 April. Place Temperature Date Larkana 19 April Sukkur Mohenjo Daro 19 & 20 April Dadu 20 April Jacobabad Nawabshah Sibi 19 & 20 April Karachi 22 & 23 April
Record breaking 2010 summer heat wave The hottest temperature ever to be recorded in Asia, and the fourth highest temperature that has ever been recorded in the world, was recorded in Mohenjo-daro, Sindh, at . The second hottest temperature ever to be recorded in Asia and the fifth highest temperature ever to be recorded in the world was in Larkana, Sindh at on May 26, 2010. Twelve cities in Pakistan saw temperatures that went above during the extreme summer heatwave of 2010, which lasted from May 22 to May 31 of that year. On May 27, temperatures higher than hit areas across Pakistan and at least 18 people died as a result. In addition, during the extreme heatwave season, eleven cities saw their highest-ever recorded temperatures of or above, and five cities saw temperatures of . Eleven cities also saw extreme temperatures of more than , although they were below . The previous highest temperature ever recorded for Pakistan and for Asia was on June 12, 1919, at ; this occurred at Jacobabad.
Low temperatures In northern and western Pakistan, cold waves can occur between October and March. The most powerful cold waves usually occur in December and January. During these cold waves, some areas of northern and western Pakistan often experience temperatures that are below 0 °C. Often, the place most affected by these cold waves is the glacial parts of Gilgit Baltistan, where, in winter, the average temperature remains below -20 °C. The K2 Peak has recorded a wind chill of -65 °C.mountain-forecast.com The most deadly cold wave in the recent history of Pakistan was the record-breaking cold wave of winter 2020. Temperatures in the hottest places of Pakistan fell below 2 °C or more. Cities that are near the foothills of the Himalayas, including Islamabad, Peshawar, and Lahore, can record temperatures that are below freezing. It is not uncommon for Islamabad to receive snow in strong cold spells; the Khyber Hills, in Peshawar, Hayatabad can also receive light snowfall.
List of some important cities of Pakistan with temperature of 0°C or below Official data (according to Pakistan Metrological Department)
Date Temperature °C City Province References7 January 1995 -24 °C. (-11.2 °F)SkarduGilgit-Baltistan??? -23.9 °C (-11.0 °F)Naran (town)Khyber Pakhtunkhwa8 January 1970 -18.3 °C (-0.9 °F)QuettaBalochistan20 January 1978 Kalat 5 February 1984 -13.9 °C (7.0 °F)DirKhyber Pakhtunkhwa11 January 1987 -13.5 °C (7.7 °F)GilgitGilgit Baltistan29 December 1972 -12.2 °C (10.0 °F)ChitralKhyber Pakhtunkhwa???? -11 °C (12 °F)MurreePunjab30 December 1997DalbandinBalochistan26 January 2008DroshKhyber Pakhtunkhwa9 February 1974 -10 °C (14 °F)Nok KundiBalochistan30 December 1977Barkhan23 January 1982 -7.3 °C (18.9 °F)KakulKhyber Pakhtunkhwa17 January 1967 Islamabad Islamabad Capital Territory 6 January 2006 Mohenjo Daro Sindh 11 December 1996 Faisalabad Punjab 17 January 1967 -3.9 °C (25.0 °F)Rawalpindi11 January 1967Multan27 January 2008 -3 °C (27 °F)Saidu SharifKhyber Pakhtunkhwa1 February 1929SialkotPunjab15 January 1935Bahawalpur17 January 1935 -2 °C (28 °F) Lahore 10 January 1983 -1.6 °C (29.1 °F)PeshawarKhyber Pakhtunkhwa 6 January 2006 Larkana Sindh
Precipitation The standard instrument for measuring rain or snowfall is the rain gauge.
Rainfall Pakistan receives rainfall from both monsoons and western disturbances. The Monsoon season occurs from July to September and brings a heavy downpour across the country, except in western Balochistan. Western disturbances occur from October to May and bring rainfall across the country, with some heavy downpour in northern Pakistan. In June, however, western disturbances occasionally hit the northern parts of the country. Occasionally, pre-monsoon weather can also occur in this month.
Heaviest rainfall in a single season Record-breaking rainfall in Pakistan that occurred over a single season. This table is based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2022 and other sources. Season Rainfall (mm) Rainfall (in) City Province Notes July–August 2022 1,763.9 69.4 Padidan Sindh of rainfall was recorded from 01.07.2022 to 26.08.2022 in Padidan. This was a result of a consistent low pressure area that occurred over northern Sindh. It was the heaviest rainfall in Sindh that has ever been recorded.
Heaviest rainfall of 400 mm or above during a 24 hour period Record-breaking rainfall that occurred in Pakistan, which reached over or above during a 24-hour period. This table is based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2016, along with other sources. Date Rainfall (mm) Rainfall (in) City Province Notes 23 July 2001 620 24.4 Islamabad Islamabad Capital Territory of rainfall was recorded in a period of 10 hours, on 23 July 2001. This occurred in Islamabad as the result of a cloudburst. It was the heaviest rainfall in Islamabad and also the heaviest recorded in Pakistan. 3 September 2025 557 21.9 Gujrat, Pakistan Punjab Heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Punjab Province.16 July 202542316.6ChakwalDue to cloud burst
Rainfall between 200 mm and 400 mm during a 24 hour period Record-breaking rainfall that occurred in Pakistan, recorded to be between and , during a 24-hour period. This is based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020, along with other sources.