The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has reported unprecedented rainfall and temperature fluctuations across Punjab and the country during the 2024 monsoon season.

Pakistan experienced 51% more rainfall than the average between July 1 and August 30 this year, with some areas facing record deluges while others recorded unusually high temperatures.

Balochistan and Sindh saw the most significant increases, with Balochistan receiving 111% more rainfall than normal and Sindh experiencing a rise of 108%.

Punjab recorded a 48% increase, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan had smaller increments of 5% and 2%, respectively.

In contrast, Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported a 21% decrease in rainfall compared to the average.

The normal monsoon rainfall in Pakistan averages around 212mm, but this year’s totals far surpassed expectations. Lahore, for instance, recorded 951.1mm of rain during the season, with 603mm falling in August alone.

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Notably, August 1 marked a historic event for Lahore Airport, which experienced 337mm of rainfall in a single day, the highest ever recorded in the country.