Climate of Lahore

Lahore features a five-season semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh), closely bordering a humid subtropical climate, with five seasons: foggy winter (10 Dec – 1 Feb) with few western disturbances causing rain; pleasant spring (16 Feb – 15 April); summer (15 April – 30 June) with dust, rain storms and heat wave periods; rainy monsoon (1 July – 16 September); and dry autumn (16 September –14 November). However, in some cases, it can be classified as being humid subtropical (Cwa), rather than semi-arid, since it has well defined seasons and an ample amount of rain. It occasionally has very prolonged and dense monsoons, typical of a humid subtropical climate.

Weather radar of Lahore, located on Jail Road.

The hottest month is June, where average highs routinely exceed 40 °C (104.0 °F). The wettest month is July, with heavy rainfalls and evening thunderstorms with the possibility of cloudbursts. The coolest month is January with dense fog.

[1]

The city's record high temperature was 50.4 °C (122.7 °F), recorded on 5 June 2003.[2] On 10 June 2007, a temperature of 48 °C (118 °F) was recorded;[3][4] The lowest temperature recorded in Lahore is –2.2 °C, recorded on 17 January 1935.[5][6]

Climate data for Lahore (1961–1990), extremes (1931–2018)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 27.8
(82.0)		 33.3
(91.9)		 37.8
(100.0)		 46.1
(115.0)		 48.3
(118.9)		 50.3
(122.5)		 46.1
(115.0)		 42.8
(109.0)		 41.7
(107.1)		 40.6
(105.1)		 35.0
(95.0)		 30.0
(86.0)		 50.3
(122.5)
Average high °C (°F) 19.8
(67.6)		 22.0
(71.6)		 27.1
(80.8)		 33.9
(93.0)		 38.6
(101.5)		 40.4
(104.7)		 36.1
(97.0)		 35.0
(95.0)		 35.0
(95.0)		 32.9
(91.2)		 27.4
(81.3)		 21.6
(70.9)		 30.8
(87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.8
(55.0)		 15.4
(59.7)		 20.5
(68.9)		 26.8
(80.2)		 31.2
(88.2)		 33.9
(93.0)		 31.5
(88.7)		 30.7
(87.3)		 29.7
(85.5)		 25.6
(78.1)		 19.5
(67.1)		 14.2
(57.6)		 24.3
(75.8)
Average low °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)		 8.9
(48.0)		 14.0
(57.2)		 19.6
(67.3)		 23.7
(74.7)		 27.4
(81.3)		 26.9
(80.4)		 26.4
(79.5)		 24.4
(75.9)		 18.2
(64.8)		 11.6
(52.9)		 6.8
(44.2)		 17.8
(64.0)
Record low °C (°F) −2.2
(28.0)		 0.0
(32.0)		 2.8
(37.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 14.0
(57.2)		 18.0
(64.4)		 20.0
(68.0)		 19.0
(66.2)		 16.7
(62.1)		 8.3
(46.9)		 1.7
(35.1)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 −2.2
(28.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 34.0
(1.34)		 31.6
(1.24)		 98.2
(3.87)		 19.7
(0.78)		 22.4
(0.88)		 122.3
(4.81)		 214.1
(8.43)		 204.9
(8.07)		 61.1
(2.41)		 12.4
(0.49)		 4.2
(0.17)		 13.9
(0.55)		 838.8
(33.04)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 218.8 215.0 245.8 276.6 308.3 269.0 227.5 234.9 265.6 290.0 259.6 222.9 3,034
Source 1: NOAA (1961-1990) [7]
Source 2: PMD[8]

Factors

Monsoons and western disturbances are the two main factors that affect the weather in Lahore; otherwise, continental air prevails for rest of the seasons. Following are the main factors that influence the weather of Lahore.

  • Western disturbances generally occur during the winter months and cause moderate rainfall; rarely, hailstorms also occur.
  • Fog is dense during the winter season and remains for days to weeks.
  • Dust storms occur during summer months, peaking in May and June.
  • Heat waves are intense in May and June.
  • Southwest monsoons also occur in the summer, from June until September. These heavy monsoon rains bring relief from scorching heat.
  • Continental air prevails during the period when there is no precipitation in the city.

Monsoon rainfall
Gulberg covered in hail from a hailstorm on 26 February 2011.

The average annual rainfall precipitation in Lahore amounts to around 758.8 millimetres (29.87 in).[9][10] Monsoon rains commence from the last week of June and persist until the end of September. In 2009, Lahore saw below-normal monsoon rainfalls due to the presence of El-Nino over Pakistan.[11] Following are monsoon rainfall precipitation data for Lahore since 2007, taken from the Pakistan Meteorological Department:[12]

Annual rainfall

Lahore mainly receives its rainfall during the monsoon season from June till September, and in winter season from December till February. The highest-ever annual rainfall in Lahore was recorded in 2011 when 1,576.8 millimetres (62.08 in) of rainfall was recorded.[5] Lahore received below normal rains in 2009, and normal rains in 2007 and 2010. The following is the Annual rainfall in Lahore since 2007 based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.[12]

  • In 2007, a total of 716 millimetres (28.2 in) rain was recorded.[31]
  • In 2008, a total of 917 millimetres (36.1 in) rain was recorded.[32]
  • In 2009, a total of 698.4 millimetres (27.50 in) rain was recorded.[33]
  • In 2010, a total of 738 millimetres (29.1 in) rain was recorded.[34]
  • In 2011, a total of 1,576.8 millimetres (62.08 in) rain was recorded as of 21 September 2011.[35]

Extreme weather events
  • On 26 February 2011, Lahore received an isolated but strong hailstorm measuring 4.5 cm that carpeted several roads of the city. The hailstorm was the heaviest in Lahore for the last 30 years.[36][37] Usually, hailstorms occur in the plain areas of the Punjab province during the winter season. The hailstorm lasted for 30 minutes intermittently with heavy rain showers. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the city received 12 millimetres (0.47 in) of rain and 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) of hail at the airport (liquid precipitation).[37]

See also

References
  1. "Quetta". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  2. "Quetta". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  3. "Highest temperature in 78 years: Four die as city sizzles at 48o C". Daily Times. 10 June 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  4. "Heatwave to persist for 4–5 days", The Dawn, 10 June 2007.
  5. "LAHORE". Pakistan Meteorological Department. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  6. "PakMet". www.pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010.
  7. "Lahore Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  8. "Extremes of Lahore". Pakistan Meteorological Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  9. "Rainfall in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Average Precipitation and Wet Days". www.lahore.climatemps.com. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  10. "Lahore climate: weather by month, temperature, precipitation, when to go". www.climatestotravel.com. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  11. "PakMet" (PDF). www.pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012.
  12. "PakMet". PakMet. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  13. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20120315190612/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/rnd/rnd_files/vol2_Issue3/6.%20WEATHER%20IN%20PAKISTAN.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20120315190530/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/rnd/rnd_files/vol3_issue5/8.%20WEATHER%20IN%20PAKISTAN%20_july-September%202005_.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20120315190102/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/rnd/rnd_files/vol4_issue7/7.%20WEATHER%20IN%20PAKISTA1%20Monsoon%20Season%20_July-September_.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729125042/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainjune.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729125013/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainjuly.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. "PakMet". www.pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  19. "Rainfall Statement For The Month of September 2008". September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729124910/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfalljune09.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729124906/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfalljuly09.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729115503/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfallaug09.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729125005/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfallsep09.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729124915/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfalljune10.htm. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. https://web.archive.org/web/20100820185911/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfalljuly10.htm. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20100921231522/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfallaug10.htm. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100823050801/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfall.htm. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. "PakMet". Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  29. "Pakistan Meteorological Department". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  30. https://web.archive.org/web/20120714003152/http://www.pmd.gov.pk/FFD/index_files/daily/rainfalljul12.htm. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. "Rainfall Statements for the year 2007". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  32. "Rainfall Statements for the year 2008". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  33. "Rainfall statements for the year 2009". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  34. "Rainfall statements for the year 2010". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  35. "Rainfall statements for the year 2011". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  36. "Lahore Snow (Hailstorm) Pics (Feb 26, 2011)". Paki Mag. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  37. "Lahore gets rare hailstorm". Dawn. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
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