Key Points
- Sialkot became the wettest city of the month with 730.8 mm of rainfall, including 363.5 mm in a single day on August 27
- PMD Director General linked the unusually warm nights to global warming, urban heat, and moisture-heavy air, which prevent nighttime cooling
- High nighttime temperatures stress public health, agriculture, and the environment by not allowing recovery from daytime heat, even during rainy periods
- Monsoon activity is expected to intensify in Sindh and southeastern Punjab, with isolated showers forecast in several regions through the weekend
ISLAMABAD: August 2025 has gone down in the record books for an unexpected reason in Pakistan; it recorded the 4th warmest month in the past six decades.
“August 2025 recorded the fourth-highest national mean minimum temperature in the past 65 years”, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) newly released climate data shows.
Eastern Punjab city Sialkot was the wettest location in August with a total monthly rainfall of 730.82 mm, amid widespread monsoon rains and flooding in several regions.
Warm nights despite heavy rains
Talking to WE News English, Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Sahibzad Khan said this trend reflects broader shifts linked to global warming, where even wet spells and stormy periods no longer guarantee cooler conditions. Moisture-heavy air, urban heat, and changing atmospheric patterns can all contribute to keeping nighttime temperatures elevated, even during rainy months.
When asked to explain it in simple words, he said, “It means that in August 2025, the nights across Pakistan were warmer than usual. On average, the coolest parts of each day, usually during the night, stayed unusually warm, making it the fourth warmest August for nights in the past 65 years.”
This marks a significant and concerning anomaly, he continued, saying that, typically, heavy rainfall is expected to bring cooler temperatures, especially at night. However, the data shows that nights stayed warmer than usual, with only three Augusts — since 1960 — recording higher average minimum temperatures.
“High minimum temperatures are often overlooked, but they play a critical role in climate stress, He said, adding warmer nights disrupt human health, agriculture, and the environment by not allowing the atmosphere or soil to recover from daytime heat.
According to PMD, Pakistan Monthly Climate Summary, this August, large parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan experienced above-normal temperatures at night, even as floods hit lower-lying areas and total rainfall rose above seasonal averages. The unusual pattern underscores how climate extremes are happening simultaneously, challenging traditional weather expectations.
Extremes were observed across regions
According to PMD data Dalbandin (Balochistan) recorded the hottest day at 45.0°C on August 6, while Bagrote (Gilgit-Baltistan) saw the coldest night at 9.5°C on August 14. Meanwhile, Sialkot (Punjab) experienced both the heaviest one-day rainfall (363.5 mm) on August 27 and the wettest month overall, with a total of 730.8 mm. Climate indicators like El-Nino Southern Oscillation remained neutral, but the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) began shifting into a negative phase, both of which could influence regional weather in the coming months.
The data is yet another reminder that Pakistan, already among the most climate-vulnerable nations, is grappling with shifting weather norms — where floods, heatwaves, and warmer nights may coexist more frequently in the future.
As the monsoon season winds down, meteorologists warn that persistent warm nights could have lingering effects on public health, energy consumption, and crop cycles, particularly in areas already struggling with waterlogging or damaged infrastructure.
Monsoon activity to intensify in Sindh and Punjab: PMD
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast an increase in monsoon activity in parts of the country, as a low-pressure system currently situated over Madhya Pradesh, India, is expected to move northwest towards Rajasthan within the next 24 hours.
According to the latest weather outlook, monsoon currents have begun to penetrate Sindh and southeastern Punjab, with the intensity likely to increase from Friday evening or night. This development may bring relief from the prevailing hot and dry conditions in several regions.
On Friday, most parts of the country are expected to remain hot and dry. However, isolated rain-wind/thundershowers may occur in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Southeastern Balochistan, Southeastern Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.
The PMD also predicts similar conditions for Saturday, with partly cloudy weather and isolated showers likely in Southeastern and Central Sindh, Northeastern Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir during the afternoon.
Authorities have advised citizens, particularly in vulnerable areas, to stay updated with official weather reports as monsoon activity intensifies.
