Recorded temperature in March in Pakistan exceeds 2030 predictions

Pakistan experienced unusually high temperatures across the country in March, despite contributing only minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report released by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The findings highlight the growing impact of climate change on the region.

The PMD’s summary noted that the national average nighttime minimum temperature reached 14.7°C, making it the second-highest on record. This figure was 2.7°C above the countrywide average of 12.0°C, just shy of the record 15.0°C set in 2022.

Daytime temperatures were also elevated. The country’s average maximum temperature hit 28.5°C, marking a positive anomaly of +2.0°C above typical March values. The national mean temperature for the month was 21.6°C, ranking as the fifth-highest ever recorded and 2.3°C above the historical average of 19.3°C.

Regional extremes were pronounced. Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad in Sindh recorded the hottest day of the month on March 10, with temperatures soaring to 40.5°C. Mithi emerged as the overall warmest location in the country, posting a mean monthly maximum of 36.8°C. On the other end of the spectrum, Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan experienced the coldest single day at -2.0°C on March 3, while Kalam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had the lowest average minimum temperature at 2.5°C.

Rainfall also exceeded seasonal averages. The national area-weighted rainfall for March was 38.9 mm, representing a 24 per cent increase over the norm. 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 with a total of 315 mm.

The PMD noted that climate indicators remained neutral, with no active La Niña or El Niño conditions currently affecting Pakistan’s weather patterns.

These unusual temperature and rainfall trends underscore the country’s vulnerability to climate extremes, even as Pakistan’s overall contribution to global emissions remains relatively low.