Abu Hesham
Karachi: The climate change challenges are turning fast into reality for Pakistan as November 2024 marked the country’s hottest November on record, with temperatures significantly surpassing the national average, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
A monthly outlook report of PMD said that the country’s mean monthly temperature for November stood at 20.75°C—an astonishing 2.89°C higher than the typical 17.87°C. This set a new benchmark, exceeding the previous November high of 19.87°C in 2011 and marking the warmest November in 64 years.
Daytime temperatures across the nation also soared, with the national maximum reaching 28.05°C—up 2.13°C from the usual 25.92°C. This made it the second hottest November maximum in the past six decades, only slightly behind the 28.09°C recorded in 2007.
Nighttime temperatures were equally elevated, with the national minimum averaging 13.40°C, a remarkable 4.07°C above the norm of 9.33°C. This set a new record for the highest average minimum temperature since 1960.
The hottest day of the month occurred in Turbat, Balochistan, where temperatures climbed to a sweltering 41°C. Mithi in Sindh recorded the highest mean monthly maximum at 35.5°C. Meanwhile, the coldest night was reported in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, where temperatures plummeted to -6.6°C on November 28.
Rainfall across the country was close to average, with a total of 5.6mm for the month—an 8% deviation from the norm. The heaviest rainfall occurred in Khuzdar, Balochistan, which recorded 54.3mm on November 30. Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saw the highest monthly total, with 110.0mm of rain.
Shifting meteorological patterns are also at play, with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) transitioning toward a La Niña phase, and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) trending towards a negative phase. These changes could have far-reaching impacts on global weather systems in the coming months.