ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan recorded its hottest monsoon season in seven years in 2026, with temperatures reaching 48.5 degrees Celsius in Turbat, Balochistan, while rainfall remained below normal in most parts of the country, according to a report by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
The report highlighted significant regional differences in rainfall, with Sindh and Balochistan experiencing substantial shortfalls. In contrast, Gilgit-Baltistan received more rainfall than its seasonal average.
Turbat recorded the season’s highest temperatures on July 7, 12, 30 and 31, when the mercury reached extreme levels. Meanwhile, Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan recorded a temperature of 6°C on September 23 and 26, reflecting cooler conditions towards the end of the monsoon season.
Rainfall falls below normal in most regions
According to the report, Sindh received 51% less rainfall than normal during the monsoon season, while Balochistan recorded a 34% shortfall.
Rainfall was 18% below normal in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 16% below average in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 4% below normal in Punjab.
Gilgit-Baltistan was the exception, recording rainfall 5% above its normal seasonal level.
Heavy downpours recorded in Punjab
Despite the overall rainfall deficit in several regions, some areas experienced intense downpours during the season.
Lahore airport recorded 252 millimetres of rainfall in a single day on July 23, 2026. Gujranwala received a cumulative 607mm of rain during July, according to the report.
The figures illustrate the uneven distribution of monsoon rainfall across Pakistan, with some areas facing significant rainfall shortages while others experienced episodes of intense precipitation.
The report's findings highlight the contrasting weather conditions recorded during the 2026 monsoon season, although the figures alone do not establish that climate change caused every temperature or rainfall anomaly.