‘Coldest December in 30 years! – North Balochistan and Islamabad breaks record’

Icy and chilly winds envelops Pakistan

As the year was coming to an end, Pakistan (parts of the country) experienced the coldest December in 30 years. The country witnessed a quick transition from a long hot October to early mild cold November however the southern parts of the country experienced their first share of cold during the mid week of December. October 2013 was the hottest month in the world since 1880.

Factors that affect Pakistan in Winter

Only two weather phenomenons affect Pakistan during winter months;

1. Western disturbance: These systems have the potential to cause heavy precipitation with strong winds gusting to 100 km/h or more, they could cover whole Pakistan depending upon their intensity. It is major non-monsoon weather system in the northwestern sub-continent.
2. Fog: It mostly affect the plains of Punjab, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Balochistan and adjoining Sindh, depending upon the prevailing conditions, fog could turn into the most threatening source of traffic accidents in the country. It rarely forms over coastal Pakistan.

Upcoming Weather

The 30 year old minimum temperature of December was broken in parts of Balochistan as the temperature  dropped to -15°C in Kalat while it dropped to -13°C in the provincial capital Quetta due to the Siberian anticyclone. Miranshah, North Waziristan saw first snowfall after after five years.

December breaks record in Islamabad

The lowest temperature of December −2.8 °C set in 1984 has been broken after 29 years in Islamabad as temperature was -3°C on December 30, 2013.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Islamabad was 46 years ago in January 1967 when the mercury fell at  -3.9°C.

Karachi is crystal ice since three days!

The most active area seen during the rain

Since December 27, the lowest temperature in Karachi has been 6°C which can drop to 4°C/5°C on December 30 night and December 31 night.  6°C is nothing to be amazed in Karachi as almost every winter similar temperature has been recorded in the city for example the latest years being 2010 and 2011.

The minimum temperature recorded in December in Karachi was 1.3°C in 1986.

Rain is coming to the north

A western disturbance would affect the northern areas of the country on December 30 night and December 31 that can bring showers/rain to Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and adjoining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Punjab (Murree, Rawalpindi and few adjoining cities). Slight chances of drizzle/isolated shower in north-eastern Punjab (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala and few adjoining cities).

Snowfall can also occur over the mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan , Azad Kashmir and adjoining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Winter 2013-2014 Outlook: December and January to be the coldest

A proper western system can affect in January

In Pakistan, winter 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 were affected by La-Nina while 2012-2013 was affected by the ENSO neutral conditions. It seems like that winter 2013-2014 would also be affected by the ENSO neutral conditions.

“Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) on it’s Facebook Page on December 4 had updated a status which stated that Pakistan would witness chilly days during the last weeks/last days of December or first week of January and the country would not witness any ‘proper’ (wide scale) winter spell till the end of 2013.”

• During the last days of December (severe cold wave can continue can continue till first week in the north) many parts of the country have witnessed chilly temperatures and no ‘proper’ winter spell occurred in any part of the country.

On December 27 status, The Portal said that a proper winter spell can occur in the country around the mid of January. The winter wet spell would be below normal in the country however it can be near normal in northern Balochistan, Gilgit-Balistan and adjoining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Azad Kashmir. The winter wet spell can be above normal in Jammu & Kashmir. Temperature-wise winter can be intense but short, one to two severe cold waves are also likely in January while one cold wave (not severe) can occur in February. (PWP will issue a second outlook on January 15, 2014 where this forecast would be revised or remain unchange).

In the month of December, Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) published a total of articles eight articles;

1. First Winter Outlook (2013 – 2014): Pakistan freezes as 30 year old record broken!
2. When religion and hatred mingles in with weather!
3. Merry Christmas from PWP
4. Pakistan Weather Update (December 20 – December 31)
5. The Arab Snow: Now Weather Revolution in Middle East!
6. Lahore blurred out: Punjab hides under fog!
7. Monsoon Daily Updates – For September 2013
8. Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) – September 2013 in Review!

Article of the month

1. Pakistan freezes as 30 year old record broken!

You do not see such things happening every year.

Article of the year

The Portal cannot decide that which post should be the article of 2013;

1. Death of Children: Sindh turning into new Africa?
2. Division – Kashmir Heaven axed by Devilish LoC! (Pak-Indo Tensions)
3. Asteroid heading towards Planet Earth!
4. Hollywood-style Meteor screams its way into Russia
5. Froze to Death: The Wall Between Nature and Child!
6. A Cyclone is coming to Pakistan this year!
7. Lunar Eclipse to make its entrance tonight!
8. The infamous blood rain – Sky bleeds as red rain falls! (Not related to 2013)
9. Burst of clouds causes ‘Himalayan Tsunami’ (Monsoon mayhem in India – Early this year)
10. Lenticular Clouds and the skies of Pakistan! (For tourism purpose)
11. Grow up Media: Shocking video of a flood-victim (Indian Journalism shocks the world)
12. An Image of British Karachi under flood!
13. When religion and hatred mingles in with weather
14. The Arab Snow: Now Weather Revolution in Middle East!

So please help us decide by selecting one article from the list.

Everything in the year 2013

The time passes really quickly, it only seems yesterday that the year 2013 had started and now we are at the last day of the year. Politically 2013 was the year of change in the country. The year did set some new weather records from south to north which you could see below. Going through all the articles of the year I must say that 2013 should be called the “Year of the Earthquake” as high intensity earthquakes occurred in various parts of the country.

January - Ice Age in Murree and Faisalabad

Karachi witnessed unusual rains

After 50 years the temperature of Murree and north-eastern Punjab (Faisalabad and Sahiwal) was same that is -2°C on January 8 while Lahore froze at 0 °C. The last time such cold wave occurred was in 1962.

Monthly heavy rains start in Karachi!

Torrential rains in a calm month that too in Karachi is rare but if that trend continues for the coming month, its even more rare. The trend of monthly heavy rain accompanied by explosive thunder and winds started from December 2012 and continued in January, February, March and April.

February - Winter storm creates havoc everywhere

Whitened Abbottabad after snow

Rainstorms, Windstorms, Hailstorms, Thunderstorm, Blizzards, Avalanches - These are the things that Pakistan witnessed during this storm that affected the entire country. Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) in its January 31 update had warned that 120+ mm rainfall could occur in the northern areas while there were chances of blizzard as well.

It can be compared to the February 2003 storm that occurred in the third week of February and sub-merged many cities of the country. 2003 storm’s highest rain was 314 mm in Murree while 2013 storm’s highest rain was 219 mm in Rawalakot but the storm of 2013 break the snowfall records.

March - Islamabad turns white!

Islamabad after snow?

On March 14, the federal capital Islamabad was whitened from its colourful atmosphere that came as a surprise as a thunderstorm yielded intense hailstorm, the storm impacted major cities of northern Punjab. A Western Winds was responsible for the unusual turn in the event. The other cities that received hailstorm included Rawalpindi and Lahore.

April - Flooding hits Lower Balochistan

Dark clouds roared over Balochistan

Heavy torrential rainfall lashed Makran coast including Gwadar causing the death of five people, heavy flooding occurred in Gwadar and Kech district where shops were submerged under storm water while several walls of houses collapsed. The flooding did not get any coverage from the media.

Massive Earthquake hits many Asian countries 

Massive Earthquake hit UAE, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. The magnitude was 7.8 on Richter Scale. Two tremors were felt in Karachi. In January 2011, a similar earthquake of same pattern of magnitude 7.2 hit UAE, Iran, Pakistan, India and other adjoining countries, it followed a similar pattern like today’s earthquake. Following are the earthquakes that occurred during the same period;

1. Earthquake jolts Sindh coast (March)
2. Another Earthquake hits Pakistan including Islamabad (April – The magnitude was 6.8)

May - Lahore came close in breaking all time high

The mercury kept rising up

The cultural hub of the country came close in setting a new all time high temperature on May 23 as the highest temperature in the month of May occurred in 1990 (23 years ago) that was 47.4 °C according to NOAA. On May 23, the severe heat wave that has engulfed much of Pakistan since mid of May caused the temperature to rise at 47 °C thus coming close but not breaking the monthly temperature.

June - Back to back storms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Fierce windstorm in Peshawar

Two western disturbances affected the province the first one brought landslides and floods while the second one brought intense windstorms that killed many people in the province, the provincial capital Peshawar was also affected. The fierce winds also reached Islamabad/Rawalpindi where according to few local stations unconfirmed 90 km/h to 130 km/h winds blew in the cities.

Countrywide Pre-monsoon chaos in Lahore

Very heavy rain of 102 mm rain occurred in Lahore.

July - Abnormality of Weather leaves trail of diseases across Pakistan?

Pakistan’s X-ray: Severe diseases after 2010

Pakistan experienced the worst Measles outbreak since 2008. The increase in Measles outbreak can be contributed to the frequent floods that have been witnessed since 2010. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012, 310 deaths were reported while 14, 984 cases came forward. In 2013, WHO say that the ‘track is much worse’ than 2012.

After experiencing torrential monsoon rains and floods in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Sindh was the first Pakistani province to report outbreak of Measles in December 2012, almost all deaths were of children who lived in the flood and rain-affected areas according to Asian Human Rights Commission. After Sindh, severe measles outbreak was reported in Punjab province.

August - The Karachi floods

Islamabad Airport sub-merged

Karachi experienced it’s first monsoon deluge of the year due to the remnants of a tropical depression BOB 03 that formed in the Bay of Bengal on July 30 and traveled all the way from eastern India to central India and then to southern Pakistan. 136 mm (5.3 inches) was recorded in North Karachi while 74 mm (2.9 inches) was recorded in DHA (south) Karachi. TV Footage showed cars upside down in some areas of the city due to the power of floodwater.

Islamabad Airport turned into a ‘Waterport’

On August 6, a severe wave of monsoon rain hit the capital city causing all flights to be cancelled as rain water gathered over the runway. The rain (107 mm) was due to the seventh monsoon spell that brought heavy downpour to many areas of the north. Just six days after, monsoon 2013′s strongest eighth spell hit the upper parts bringing very intense rains there, Islamabad got 202 mm on August 13 and 103 mm on August 14.

Islamabad got 567.3 mm rain in the month of August as compared to the average monthly rain of 334.7 mm. Following is a related article;

1. Pakistan under floodwater again – Guinness World Record?

September - Powerful Earthquake strikes Pakistan

The new Island shocked everyone

Earthquake of magnitude 7.7 occurred in the SSE of Balochistan at about 4:29 pm PKT, strong tremors were felt in Karachi. The quake caused an Island to emerge near Gwadar coast, the death toll in Balochistan touched 300 people while 500 were injured. It was followed by days of aftershocks in Awaran district of Balochistan as the most powerful aftershock occurred four days after the main quake.

The area had adjoining Sindh province witnessed two minor earthquake in December as well.

October – Karachi after 9 years

High temperatures and rain in October

On October 10, rain occurred in the metropolis after nine years (last rain occurred in October 2004 due to cyclone Onil). During the middle of October the city witnessed daily formation of dust storm with drizzle/sharp showers in some parts of the city. October is the most calm and driest month in the city.

December - Punjab hides under fog!

You might find it hard to believe but this is Karachi

It has become a yearly story in Punjab, fog is becoming the second most deadly weather in the country after the monsoon season. In Multan district at least 18 people died due to the dangerous fog. Many cities of Punjab have been effected which include Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhang, Layyah, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar.

Intense fog was also observed over the southern areas of Pakistan.

Extreme cold wave after 30 years

The 30-year-old minimum temperature of December was broken in parts of Balochistan as the temperature  dropped to -15°C in Kalat while it dropped to -13°C in the provincial capital Quetta due to the Siberian anticyclone. Miranshah, North Waziristan saw first snowfall after five years. The lowest temperature of December −2.8 °C set in 1984 was broken after 29 years in Islamabad as temperature was -3°C on December 30, 2013.

Since December 27, the lowest temperature in Karachi had been 6°C which dropped to 4°C (unofficial) on December 31 early morning.

Interesting and shocking stories of 2013

The colours of 2013!

The Guardian, one of the most popular newspaper of the world from United Kingdom, mentioned PWP’s view on the heatwave of 2013. (check here check here). UK journalist John Vidal mentioned PWP’s view on his blog as well (check here). Pakistan Meteorological Department took pictures from PWP which would refer to our blog once you click them. (check here). A large number of people mentioned PWP on forums and social sites in 2013.

There were lots of other things in 2013 that happened in Pakistan and the globe which captured the attention of the people, lets take a look of the interesting and most shocking stories of the year from PWP;

1. Death of Children: Sindh turning into new Africa?
2. Division – Kashmir Heaven axed by Devilish LoC! (Pak-Indo Tensions)
3. Britain gearing up: After snow, cold and warm weather – comes another storm!
4. Asteroid heading towards Planet Earth!
5. Hollywood-style Meteor screams its way into Russia
6. Whitewash – Japan gets pounded by snow!
7. Froze to Death: The Wall Between Nature and Child!
8. Heatwave enters as soon as Winter ends – Karachi burns!
9. A Cyclone is coming to Pakistan this year!
10. Pakistan Election 2013: Dust storms can occur in North!
11. Lunar Eclipse to make its entrance tonight!
12. Massive Tornado blasts its way through Oklahoma!
13. The infamous blood rain – Sky bleeds as red rain falls! (Not related to 2013)
14. Burst of clouds causes ‘Himalayan Tsunami’ (Monsoon mayhem in India – Early this year)
15. Lenticular Clouds and the skies of Pakistan! (For tourism purpose)
16. Grow up Media: Shocking video of a flood-victim (Indian Journalism shocks the world)
17. An Image of British Karachi under flood!
18. Harvest Moon: The Rise of the Orange Moon!
19. When religion and hatred mingles in with weather
20. The Arab Snow: Now Weather Revolution in Middle East!

Make way for 2014!

The year of 2013 was mostly calm for Pakistan it was not as bizarre as 2010 nor astonishing as 2011, it was not even spectacular as 2012 but it was a freak year for the country as the country experienced two major earthquakes, amazingly there was little damage. The disasters that occurred during the monsoon season were mostly man-made, the year will always be remembered for its winter and earthquakes. Now we are heading towards a new year with high hopes lets wish and pray that no disaster eye the country as Pakistan cannot suffer another catastrophe! 

• -34 degree Celsius in North Dakota

• Wind chills will drop to minus 50 in some places

• 16 deaths reported from US

The astonishing storm forced people to stay indoors

Nor’easter (extreme winter storm) has blasted north-eastern United States as snow and blizzard has affected 20 states. A state of emergency is in place in New York and New Jersey after a winter storm blanketed parts of the north-east of the US and Canada with up to 61 cm of snow.

(Reference CNN)

• Soil cannot take more lashing downpour

• Winds reaching 70 mph

• Extremely high tides threatening the coast

Strong winds and rough sea in Ireland

Britain is experiencing the worst back to back winter storms in more than 20 years. The country can experience more lashing rain and hurricane-force winds up to 70 miles per hour that can bring extremely high tides. The unusual powerful storms are again and again in a short space of time.

In the month of January, Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) made a total of four articles;

• Series of storm affecting U.K after 20 years!
• U.S blasted by the coldest storm in decades – New York hit hard
• 2013 – Freak Weather Events in Pakistan
• Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) – December 2013 in review!

Article of the month

• U.S blasted by the coldest storm in decades – New York hit hard

9/11 was also an environmental disaster!

The infamous dust of New York

It was a day that changed the course of history. On September 11, 2001 two commercial airlines hijacked by the terrorists flew into the World Trade Center resulting in the death of more than 2,500 Americans. The collision caused both the twin towers to collapse resulting a gigantic dust cloud to envelope lower Manhattan of New York city. Interestingly the dust cloud was visible from the satellite.

Cloud from the satellite

When the samples of the dust cloud were analyzed it showed that the substance in the cloud had cement, gypsum, asbestos, glass fibers, calcium carbonate, lead and other metal particles. The pH of the dust was very high. The toxicity of the dust had a significant impact on the people who took part in the rescue efforts. Large number of men and women reported asthma attacks.

Pakistan Weather Portal is three years old now!
In the month of February, the Portal published only one article;

• Terror cloud traps New York!

Which is also the article of the month.

MARCH 6, 2011 – Pak’s first weather blog hit the web and in just three months it started appearing in notable international press.

Lifeless bodies of children a norm in Thar?

Everyone is worried about the situation unfolding in Tharparkar if you look at the condition of children in Thar then it would not be surprising to see people with open mouths because Tharparkar district is just 400 km away from Pakistan’s largest and financial hub Karachi where the federal and provincial ministers live in a lavish lifestyle surrounded by ‘army’ of guards. The question that everyone needs to answer is that is this situation new? Have we not gone through this situation again and again?

I started this blog in March 2011 and after that in every season whether it’s a storm or a drought same news comes from Thar that is ‘Humans and Animals are dying, and there  is nobody to help them.’

It’s either drought or flood in Sindh

Sindh: Its either flood or drought!

The government does not want to believe that children are dying because of lack of food they blame the weather for the disaster though famine has been largely caused by the changing and unsettled weather conditions but it is the careless attitude of the government since 2011 that has failed to control the situation which instead of improving is going down the lane. Following are the weather events that have been observed in Sindh;

• In 2010, torrential rains battered northern Pakistan unleashing mammoth flood that engulfed the country, Sindh province was hit hard.
• In 2011, around 1000 mm rain fell in south-eastern Sindh in August and September where the annual rain is only 100 mm. Floods killed around 400 people.
• In 2012, record-breaking monsoon rain fell in upper Sindh while rest of the province experienced mild drought though above average rains were experienced early that year in southern Sindh.
• In 2013, mild drought conditions spread to other parts of Sindh as monsoon failed to break the dry period.
• The mild drought might turn into a moderate drought if the upcoming monsoon season fails to live up to expectations. In 2000, 90% of Sindh livestock was killed as Pakistan experienced it’s most deadliest drought.

Thar – You will only hear about death from this place

The Beauty of Sindh – No more?

If you were following this blog or the news for past few years then you would come to realize that nothing extraordinary is happening in Thar. Sadly, humans and animals dying in Thar is too mainstream for past couple of years. Following are the events that were captured by Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) since 2011;

• It all gained momentum in the monsoon of 2011, record-breaking rains flooded Sindh killing more than 400 people. At the end of the year there were fears that severe diseases might grip the province. The province was already recovering from the floods of 2010.
• Known as the beauty of Thar, hundreds of Peacocks started dying mysteriously in the area. More than 100 Peacocks were reported to have died in August 2012 while 60 deaths occurred in 2013.
• Are children dying for the first time in Sindh? No, in Early 2013 Measles outbreak killed 300 children in the province.
• Just 20 days ago Express Tribune reported that hundred animals mostly goats and cows have started dying in Thar due to a viral disease.
• According to Geo News English at most 100 children have died during the last three months in 2014 due to famine and viral diseases.

Pointless Culture show that was for the rich

Mound of dead – Dont disturb the dead!

It is glad to know that TV channels have severely criticized the provincial government who recently spend billions on a useless culture show which was more a lavish party than a culture show. The idea of having this “culture” show was of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former President Asif Ali Zardari and assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The whole show seemed like a party thrown by a rich teenage boy for his friends to have a good night. As the lavish ceremony was going on in Moen-Jo-Daro (UNESCO Heritage site) just few miles away people of Thar were recovering from an extreme cold wave of December. These people were already living in fragile conditions due to the floods in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and drought of 2013 but the situation deteriorated when famine hit Thar and children started dying due to lack of food. Bilawal Bhutto and his PPP-led government have billions for a party but they cannot spend a single note on the people from which they get the highest vote. The aim of the useless culture show was to highlight the culture of Pakistan (Sindh in particular) to the world so that the culture could get attention from the world, I personally hope that this lavish party gets attention from the world so that the world can come and save the Thari people because we only hear announcements from the government about food packages for the affected people but nothing on the ground. It is true when they say that actions speak louder than words!

Related Post

• Beauty of Thar – Unsettled weather killing Peacocks in Sindh!
• Abnormality of Weather leaves trail of diseases across Pakistan?
• Death of Children: Sindh turning into new Africa?
• Climate change behind Sindh floods!
• History of drought in Pakistan – In detail

ALERT: Fear of El Nino this monsoon as well- Last seen in 2009! 

Chart released by NOAA

NOAA, Australian and Japanese Meteorological Agencies have issued El-Nino watch for the Pacific Ocean. Pak Government should gear up for any uncertain situation as deficient monsoon rain may worsen the persisting drought in Thar, leading to severe drought conditions extending upto south Punjab and adjoining Balochistan. El Nino (the boy) refers to the warming of the Pacific Ocean which usually causes the collapse of monsoon in the Indian sub-continent.

The two strongest El-Nino events of the last century included 1982–83 and 1997–98. Pakistan experienced it’s worst drought from 1997 till 2002. Recently an El-Nino was witnessed in 2009.

• El-Nino comeback: Monsoon collapses, Pakistan going into drought!
• Let it be La-Nina or maybe El-Nino?
• Post drought: Monsoon broke silence over Karachi!
• Total collapse of Monsoon expected in July?
• Little girl may return for Monsoon: La-Nina episode!
• History of drought in Pakistan – In detail
• When will Monsoon start over Pakistan? – In Detail!

•  This article has been shared by Waseem Ahmed for PWP from Karachi city, Sindh, Pakistan

Reading or explaining any weather forecast, most of the time areas and regions are mostly mentioned by ‘Directions’ (like eastern, western, northern, southern or NE, NW, SE, SW) not areas names. Most or many of common people do not understand or find exact locations by these directions or may confuse a bit when they listen or read the updates.
I have already written an article about “Map of Karachi” published by PWP in December 2012 (to provide know how about ‘geographic location of different localities of Karachi’).
Given matter is an attempt to make people get the ‘Concept of Directions’ on the Maps as well at their own location like home or any workplace.

Detail narrated in Urdu is for the purpose to share this knowledge with maximum common people and to avoid any confusion in given methods or details given in the article.
(Please download the given pictures and get closer views by ‘zooming’ them.)

Portal Interactive – Get Interactive now!

Send your weather articles, ideas, videos or pictures on babar.cyclone@yahoo.com Your article would be published on Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) with your name and city, without any changes. Views expressed on Portal Interactive does not represent Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) So you could also be the part of Portal Interactive!

•  This article has been shared Muhammad Taha for PWP from Karachi city, Sindh, Pakistan

Karachi flooded during 2009

Karachi is not a rainy city and any rain received by this city is always welcomed by its citizens, as it brings down temperature and cleans the atmosphere.
Some monsoons in the city have been rather dry but others quite wet, and 2009 was one of those monsoons.

16 July 2009:

In the month of the March, PWP published five articles out of which two were of Portal Interactive;

1. Portal Interactive: The unforgettable rain of July 2009
2. Portal Interactive: Finding and Locating the Correct Direction
3. Unexpected Monsoon may worsen the Thar drought!
4. Welcome to Thar – Pakistan’s Africa near Mega city Karachi!
5. Pakistan Weather Portal – February 2014 in Review!

Article of the month

1. Welcome to Thar – Pakistan’s Africa near Mega city Karachi!

Much awaiting rain nears south Pakistan!

A thunderstorm near Karachi

A weather system has developed in the northern Arabian sea that would start to affect coastal Sindh including Karachi from April 1 till April 5 morning. The system has potential to bring heavy downpour with gusty winds to the port city along with adjoining Sindh cities.

This weather system would send heavy moisture to the upper parts of the country including Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Murree and other adjoining cities and bring widespread heavy rain.

Dont get carried away! This is an “April Fool’s day” post.

PWP Meme post

March 3 (near Taj Complex) – Based on the last time it rained in Karachi. For many of us if it rains in our city we start tweeting, putting Facebook status, uploading pictures on Instagram, uploading videos on YouTube, going to the beach or park etc but this picture shows that this poor man really doesnt care what happens as everyday is same for him with no change!

Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) published five articles in the month of April;

1. Why is Pakistani summer so unique?
2. ‘Oh its raining so what!’
3. The feeling of Karachiites these days!
4. Week long rain approaching Karachi!
5. Pakistan Weather Portal – March 2014 in Review!

Article of the month

Which should be the article of the month?

• Hottest Month is not so hot! 

• Dry month to become wet?

• Early Pre-Monsoon this year?

Temperature and Precipitation

It has been noted that El-Nino usually causes an increase in the number of Western disturbances. The country has been witnessing continuous local thunderstorms formation since April that is keeping the temperature on the lower side although an El-Nino year is usually hotter than average. So far Pakistan only witnessed two heatwaves, one during the last week of April that was relatively strong and longer while the second one in early May was short and weak. May is the hottest month in the country although at this moment it has been less hotter than average. The heating trend might continue after the middle of May.

According to the above picture, eastern parts of Pakistan are witnessing above 38° temperature while few pockets of central Sindh are witnessing 40°C temperature. The precipitation image shows 99.9% Pakistan under the influence of thunderstorms which is very rare in the month and that too from western disturbance though Arabian sea’s moisture would play an important as well.

Widespread rains at the door – Slight possibility of Pre-monsoon!

Red spot shows very heavy downpour

WARNING: Authorities should be on alert as uncertain weather is expected in the upcoming week. Possibility of urban flooding in upper KPK and Azad Kashmir. Damaging windstorms cannot be ruled out!

May usually witness isolated rains with strong dust storms but this May can turn out to be a rare one as widespread thunderstorm formation is expected. PWP Facebook on May 4 had stated that according to few numerical models heavy moisture build-up might be observed over Pakistan and adjoining western India during the middle of May, this moisture might be a result of western winds and Arabian sea’s moisture. On May 5, PWP did say that there ‘can’ be a east to west thundercloud movement during that week.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), an upper air cyclonic circulation over central Madya Pradesh has moved in a West direction, now this is significant move as such movement usually happen in the month of June which indicates pre-monsoon activity whether this UAC would have enough strength to merge with the western low pressure or it would cause thunderclouds to move into south Punjab and central areas of Pakistan is yet to be seen though both of these possibilities exist.

Thunderstorm near Karachi later this week

Rain/Hail with thunder/lightning accompained by strong gusty winds (<80 km/h) might start from May 11 night in some north-western areas of the country and continue throughout the week with intervals. Heavy downpour might occur in Azad Kashmir and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kohistan, Naran, Mansehre, Battagram, Shangla, Abbottabad and few adjoining areas), heavy rain can also occur in Islamabad. Strong possibility of rain with chances of isolated heavy rain in Lahore on May 12/May 13 and surrounding areas. This unusual activity might also cause moderate to isolated heavy rain in central and southern areas (especially Lower Balochistan and adjoining Sindh) of the country. Chances of light to medium intensity rain with strong winds in Karachi on May 15/May 16. There is a good probability that central areas of Pakistan (south Punjab) might experience some pre-monsoon activity due to the western-eastern interaction that might result in a east to west bound thunderclouds from May 15/May 16.

Tropical activity expected in June?

Tropical storm moving towards coastal Sindh

On May 4, PWP Facebook said that “Another model (CFS) shows another tropical depression in central Arabian sea, it’s track is disputed”. 

Now the same model shows that tropical depression moving towards coastal Sindh in June during the second week. Though it is early to trust this track.

Poll of the week

Following is a question from Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP);

It is your blog – Hate it or love it, PWP is not going anywhere!

Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) has covered a long distance, it started it’s journey on a sunny day of March 6, 2011 and in just two months started appearing on different international newspapers and other social media platforms notably the Washington Post and the Guardian.  You can check the accomplishments of the blog here.

The Start (March 2011 – December 2011)

First logo of Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP)

The logo was used from March till July 2011. Following is the first theme of PWP used from March 2011 till December 2011;

Old Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP)

The Fame (July 2011 – May 2014 )

The eye catching logo of PWP used from July 2011 till May 2014

This logo is one of my favorite as it defines Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP), it was made by Yousuf Tahir. The partly cloudy logo of the blog is more a like face of Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) that will be remembered forever. Following is the theme of PWP that was used from late December 2011 till May 2014;

The Fame Theme used by PWP

The Change/Transition Period (April 2014 – May 2014)

PWP X.5.X Logo

This period represented the changes to come to PWP in middle of 2014.

New Generation (May 2014 – )

New Generation PWP Logo 2014

Today a new chapter would be added to the history of Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) which is more than just a weather blog. The New Generation Logo of PWP defines two things;

• One of the most discussed topic on this blog is a cyclone therefore PWP decided to make a hurricane it’s logo but it is more than that. The spiral bands of a hurricane represent crescents with a star in the middle which makes it  the flag of Pakistan. The star can also be seen as an eye of the hurricane. If you are going to look at it from a distance it would look like a cyclone and as you approach it would be represent the flag of Pakistan.

Following is the New Generation Theme of PWP which has the world famous art of Pakistani city buses;

And if you love pictures of nature then PWP has come with another platform just for you. After appearing on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+, PWP is now on Tumblr which is a micro-blogging platform and Instagram which is famous for sharing pictures.

• pakistanweatherportal.tumblr.com
• instagram.com/pakistanweatherportal

Negative publicity is as important as positive reviews. Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) has met such type of criticisms since it’s start and it would continue to do so till the blog lives. The Portal has filled a gap and nobody can take that gap away from the Portal, the more you do the more it will get into the light!

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