ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan is likely to have below-average winter rain after record monsoon this year.
Pakistan experienced one of its heaviest monsoon seasons in decades, with rainfall causing widespread flooding across the country.
But in contrast to the wet summer, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that this winter may bring less than normal rainfall, raising fears of worsening air quality.
Early monsoon caused widespread flooding
According to the Meteorological Department, from June to September, Pakistan received 23% more rainfall than average.
The heavy rainfall triggered landslides and flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, leading to significant loss of life, property and livestock.
Punjab was the most affected, recording 34% more rainfall than normal and breaking a half-century rainfall record in Sialkot.
Other provinces also received above-normal rain this monsoon season.
Balochistan received 28% more rainfall, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 30%, Sindh 20%, Azad Kashmir 5% while Gilgit-Baltistan experienced 2% more rainfall.
Winter rainfall likely to drop
Irfan Virk, the deputy director of the Meteorological Department, said that unlike the unusually wet monsoon, rainfall in October, November, and December is likely to remain below average in the country.
“Overall, the rainfall will be less than normal in October, November, and December. We are hoping that there will be less rainfall. Rain is expected in the coastal belt of Sindh in two to three days,” Virk said.
Meteorological department has warned that less winter rainfall in the coming months may worsen Pakistan’s air quality, as reduced precipitation could fail to bring down pollutants.
Environmental experts fear that lack of winter rain may trigger a surge in respiratory diseases.
