Islamabad August 4 2022: National rainfall for the month of July 2022 was nearly three times above average and stands as record wettest July since 1961, reveled by Pakistan Meteorological Department.
July 2022 monthly rainfall alone exceeded the total normal monsoon seasonal rainfall by 26% and was excessively above average over Balochistan (+450%) & Sindh (+308%), both rank as the wettest ever during past 62 years.
The Monsoon 2022 set on in the country from 30th June, one day earlier than its normal onset date of 1st July when strong moist currents from the Arabian Sea started penetrating into southern Sindh from 1st July which spread over upper and central parts of the country from 6th July, in addition the moist currents from the Bay of Bengal also kept entering in the country and these features lasted almost through the entire month. Meanwhile, the seasonal/heat low continued to prevail over North/Northwest Balochistan with its trough stretched southeastwards. The heat low behaved bit differently with being more deepened, owing to prolonged high temperatures in planes of the country, and oriented over west Balochistan most of the time which resultantly pulled more moist currents towards Balochistan. On the other hand, a monsoon low-pressure area developed over southern areas Punjab on 7th July and prevailed till 15th July.
Another monsoon low developed over Gulf of Kutch (India) on 16th July which converted into a depression on 17th and lay over Northeast Arabian Sea-Gulf of Kutch, India. Having moved northwestward, the depression first reduced to a well-marked low over North Arabian Sea the next day and then into a low-pressure area which ultimately moved westwards towards the Oman coast on 19th July. A fresh low-pressure area formed over southeast Sindh and adjoining areas on 22nd and persisted till 27th July which produced heavy rains in central and southern Sindh including Karachi leading to urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta & Badin districts. Overall, the monsoon axis (a line stretching from the seasonal low’s centre to the Bay of Bengal in the east) remained to the south of its normal position.
Monthly rainfall was largely above average over Punjab (+116%) which stood second as wettest month, above average over GB (+32%) & KP (+30%) and nearly average over AJK (-7%).
The torrential rain caused massive flash floods in Balochistan, Sindh and southwest Punjab, inflicting huge loss of human lives and properties.
The wettest day of the month in the country was 25th July, when Badin (Sindh) recorded 219.0mm rainfall, whereas the wettest place with highest monthly total of 606.0mm at PAF Masroor, Karachi.
The national mean monthly temperature of July 2022 for Pakistan as a whole was 29.93 °C, being 1.34°C cooler than monthly-average of 31.27 °C.
Daytime (maximum) temperature at country-level was 35.07 °C, being 2.15 °C cooler than average of 37.23 °C. The nighttime (minimum) temperature was 24.83 °C, being 0.47 °C cooler than country-average of 25.30 °C.
The hottest day of the month was at Nokkundi (Balochistan) when it recorded 48.0 °C temperature on 2nd July 2022. Coldest temperature of 10.0 °C of the month was recorded at Kalam (KP) on 16th & 17th July 2022.
The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remained mostly negative during the month. The La Niña conditions have been persisting through almost 3rd year, one of the rare phenomena being described as Triple-dip La Niña and is likely to prevail through this summer.
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