LAHORE - Excessive rainfall and resultant below normal maximum and minimum temperature in May is likely to shorten summer this year, experts believe.
So far most parts of the country have received above normal rainfall and as the prevailing weather conditions are likely to persist throughout May, usually a hot month, experts are expecting lesser summer period this year.
“Westerly wave continues to pass over the country throughout the year. Height of passing westerly wave has decreased this May which has given abundance of rainfall. Rains and cloudiness have caused considerable decrease in temperature during the day and at nighttime. Presently, maximum temperature is 08-10 degree Celsius below normal level due to lesser sunshine period and frequent thunder showers. Minimum temperature is also 05-07 C below normal level. Mercury will stay at a low level as prevailing conditions are likely to persist throughout the month,” said meteorological expert Shaukat Ali Awan.
“Though unusual, this seasonal shift is not unnatural. This can happen after 10-20 year. One year in 1980’s, people in Pakistan hardly experienced summer due to similar conditions. This is not limited to Pakistan only as China, US and countries on Northern Hemisphere witnessed the same weather conditions,” he said.
“Conditions do not remain the same every year. Extra energy continues to accumulate in the atmosphere. These conditions are witnessed after 10-20 years when atmosphere is saturated with energy. This happens to restore balance of energy in the atmosphere”, Shaukat Ali Awan said, adding, these conditions were not a good omen for farmers harvesting wheat crop.
Meanwhile, parts of the country received rainfall of varying intensities on second day on Tuesday, making weather pleasant by causing decrease in the mercury level.
Experts have predicted more rains with gusty winds for most parts of the country during the current week.
Rain-thunderstorm (associated with gusty winds) occurred at scattered places in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Malakand, Hazara, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal divisions and at isolated places in Bahawalpur, Multan, D.G Khan, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Kohat and Bannu divisions.
In Lahore, cloudy weather and the resultant lesser sunshine decreased daytime temperature, making weather pleasant. Winds started blowing in the evening that followed by rains that continued intermittently till late night.
People come out of their houses in the evening to enjoy pleasant weather. Major parks and picnic spots attracted a large number of people including women and children. Huge rush was witnessed at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Gulshan Park, Jillani Park, Jallo Park, Lahore Zoo and other picnic spots in the City. Massive traffic jams were witnessed on roads in the close vicinity of these parks. On Tuesday, maximum and minimum temperature in the City was recorded 29 C and 16 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 58 per cent.
According to the experts, western disturbance is affecting upper and central parts of the country and likely to persist during next 24 hours. A fresh western disturbance is likely to approach southwestern parts of the country on Thursday and likely to move northearstwards during next 36-48 hours.
The meteorological department has forecast rain-thunderstorm (associated with gusty winds) at isolated places in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore and Faisalabad divisions), Khyber PK (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu and D I Khan divisions), Northeast Balochistan (Quetta, Zhob and Kalat divisions) during the next 24 hours.
On Tuesday, Malamjabba received 38 mm rain, Faisalabad 37 mm, Kalam 36 mm, Mangla 35 mm, Chaklala and Gujrat 33 mm each, Kakul and Okara 27 mm each, Pattan 21 mm, Rawalakot and Murree 20 mm each, Jehlum 19 mm, Saidu Sharif and Sahiwal 18 mm each, Islamabad, Joharabad and Muzaffarabad 17 mm each, Noorpur Thal, Garhi Dupatta, Lower Dir, Gujranwala and Balakot 16 mm each, Mandi Bahauddin and Lahore 15 mm each, Toba Tek Singh 14 mm, Bahawalnagar 12 mm, Chakwal and Dir 11 mm each, Gupis, Sialkot and Jhang 10 mm each.