Pakistan experienced significantly elevated temperatures nationwide throughout March 2024, despite the country’s relatively small role in global greenhouse gas emissions. This development underscores the intensifying effects of climate change on the region.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that the national average nighttime minimum temperature reached 14.7°C, ranking as the second-highest ever recorded. This was 2.7°C above the typical national average of 12.0°C and just below the record 15.0°C set in 2022.
Daytime temperatures also showed notable increases, with the average maximum temperature across the country rising to 28.5°C. This represents a positive anomaly of +2.0°C compared to normal March values. Overall, the national mean temperature for the month stood at 21.6°C, the fifth-highest on record and 2.3°C above the historical average of 19.3°C.
Regionally, extremes were evident. On March 10, Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad in Sindh recorded the hottest day of the month, with temperatures soaring to 40.5°C. Mithi was identified as the warmest location nationwide, with a mean monthly maximum temperature of 36.8°C. Conversely, Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan experienced the coldest single day at -2.0°C on March 3, while Kalam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered the lowest average minimum temperature of 2.5°C.
Rainfall also surpassed seasonal expectations. The national area-weighted rainfall for March measured 38.9 mm, marking a 24 percent increase over the usual amount. Malam Jabba in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded the heaviest single-day rainfall of 74 mm on March 31 and was the wettest location for the month, accumulating a total of 315 mm.
Notably, climate indicators remained neutral during this period, with no active La Niña or El Niño events influencing Pakistan’s weather patterns.
These unusual temperature and rainfall patterns highlight Pakistan’s growing susceptibility to climate extremes, despite its limited contribution to global emissions. This trend raises concerns about the country’s preparedness for future climate challenges.
