Climate of Lahore

Weather radar of Lahore, located on Jail Road.

Lahore features a five season semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh)(from another source: Composite monsoon climate) with five seasons: foggy winter (15 Nov – 15 Feb) with few western disturbances causing rain; pleasant spring (16 Feb – 15 April); summer (15 April – June) with dust, rain storms and heat wave periods; rainy monsoon (July – 16 September); and dry autumn (16 September –14 November).

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.

The city’s highest maximum temperature was 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) recorded on May 30, 1944.^[1] And 48 °C (118 °F) was recorded on June 9, 2007.^[2] The lowest temperature recorded in Lahore is –1°C, recorded on 13 January 1967.^[3] The highest rainfall in the city recorded during 24 hours is 221 millimetres (8.7 in), which occurred on 13 August 2008.^[4]

Climate data for Lahore (1961–1990)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	27.8 (82)	33.3 (91.9)	37.8 (100)	46.1 (115)	48.3 (118.9)	47.2 (117)	46.1 (115)	42.8 (109)	41.7 (107.1)	40.6 (105.1)	35.0 (95)	30.0 (86)	48.3 (118.9)
Average high °C (°F)	19.8 (67.6)	22.0 (71.6)	27.1 (80.8)	33.9 (93)	38.6 (101.5)	40.4 (104.7)	36.1 (97)	35.0 (95)	35.0 (95)	32.9 (91.2)	27.4 (81.3)	21.6 (70.9)	30.8 (87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12.8 (55)	15.4 (59.7)	20.5 (68.9)	26.8 (80.2)	31.2 (88.2)	33.9 (93)	31.5 (88.7)	30.7 (87.3)	29.7 (85.5)	25.6 (78.1)	19.5 (67.1)	14.2 (57.6)	24.32 (75.78)
Average low °C (°F)	5.9 (42.6)	8.9 (48)	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)
Record low °C (°F)	−2.2 (28)	0.0 (32)	2.8 (37)	10.0 (50)	14.0 (57.2)	18.0 (64.4)	20.0 (68)	19.0 (66.2)	16.7 (62.1)	8.3 (46.9)	1.7 (35.1)	−1.1 (30)	−2.2 (28)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	23.0 (0.906)	28.6 (1.126)	41.2 (1.622)	19.7 (0.776)	22.4 (0.882)	36.3 (1.429)	202.1 (7.957)	163.9 (6.453)	61.1 (2.406)	12.4 (0.488)	4.2 (0.165)	13.9 (0.547)	628.8 (24.757)
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) [5]
Source #2: PMD[6]

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 monsoon rainfall precipitation in Lahore is 470.1 millimetres (18.51 in).^[7] 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.^[8] Following are monsoon rainfall precipitation data for Lahore since 2007, taken from the Pakistan Meteorological Department:^[9]

• 2003: 377 millimetres (14.8 in) ^[10]
• 2005: 426 millimetres (16.8 in)^[11]
• 2006: 606 millimetres (23.9 in)^[12]
• 2007: 531 millimetres (20.9 in)^[13]
• 2008: 800 millimetres (31 in)^{[14][15][16][17]}
• 2009: 318 millimetres (12.5 in)^{[18][19][20][21]}
• 2010: 711 millimetres (28.0 in)^{[22][23][24][25]}
• 2011: 1,439 millimetres (56.7 in)^[26][27]
• 2012: 576.2 millimetres (22.69 in)^[28][29]
• 2013: 1,185 millimetres (46.7 in) ^[30][31]

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.^[32] 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.^[33]

• In 2007, a total of 716 millimetres (28.2 in) rain was recorded.^[34]
• In 2008, a total of 917 millimetres (36.1 in) rain was recorded.^[35]
• In 2009, a total of 468.4 millimetres (18.44 in) rain was recorded.^[36]
• In 2010, a total of 738 millimetres (29.1 in) rain was recorded.^[37]
• In 2011, a total of 1,576.8 millimetres (62.08 in) rain was recorded as of September 21, 2011.^[38]

Extreme weather events

• On February 26, 2011 Lahore received an isolated but strong hailstorm measuring 4.5 mm that carpeted several roads of the city. The hailstorm was the heaviest in Lahore for the last 35 years.^[39][40] Usually hailstorms occur in the plain areas of the Punjab province during the winter season.^[41] Hailstorm lasted for 30 minutes intermittently with heavy rain showers.^[42] According to Meteorological Department the city received 12 millimetres (0.47 in) of rain and 4.5 millimetres (0.18 in) of hail at the airport (liquid precipitation).^[43][44]

See also

• Climate of Pakistan
• List of extreme weather records in Pakistan

References

1. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/extrems/lahore.htm Archived September 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
2. "Heatwave to persist for 4-5 days", The Dawn, June 10, 2007.
3. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/Climate/Lahore_Climate_Data.txt Archived June 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
4. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainaug.htm Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
5. "Lahore Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
6. "Extremes of Lahore". Pakistan Meteorological Department. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
7. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/Climate/Lahore_Climate_Data.txt Archived June 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
8. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/monsoon2009ver.pdf Archived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
9. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/ Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
10. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20120315190612/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/rnd/rnd_files/vol2_Issue3/6.%20WEATHER%20IN%20PAKISTAN.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
11. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/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 March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
12. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/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 March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
13. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/ Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
14. https://web.archive.org/20100729125042/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainjune.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
15. https://web.archive.org/20100729125013/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainjuly.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
16. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainaug.htm Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
17. https://web.archive.org/20100729124958/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfallsep.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
18. https://web.archive.org/20100729124910/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfalljune09.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. https://web.archive.org/20100729124906/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfalljuly09.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
20. https://web.archive.org/20100729115503/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfallaug09.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
21. https://web.archive.org/20100729125005/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfallsep09.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
22. https://web.archive.org/20100729124915/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfalljune10.htm. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
23. https://web.archive.org/20100820185911/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfalljuly10.htm. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
24. https://web.archive.org/20100921231522/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfallaug10.htm. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
25. https://web.archive.org/20100823050801/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfall.htm. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
26. https://web.archive.org/20100823050801/http://www.pakmet.com.pk:80/FFD/index_files/rainfall.htm. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
27. http://web.archive.org/web/20120512224324/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/daily/rainfallsep1.htm. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
28. http://web.archive.org/web/20120719191230/http://namc.pmd.gov.pk:80/fog.php?type=f&page=46. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
29. https://web.archive.org/20120714003152/http://www.pmd.gov.pk:80/FFD/index_files/daily/rainfalljul12.htm. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
30. http://web.archive.org/web/20120719191230/http://namc.pmd.gov.pk:80/fog.php?type=f&page=46. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
31. https://web.archive.org/20120714003152/http://www.pmd.gov.pk:80/FFD/index_files/daily/rainfalljul12.htm. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
32. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/cdpc/extrems/lahore.htm Archived September 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
33. http://www.pakmet.com.pk/ Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
34. "Rainfall Statements for the year 2007". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
35. "Rainfall Statements for the year 2008". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
36. "Rainfall statements for the year 2009". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
37. "Rainfall statements for the year 2010". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
38. "Rainfall statements for the year 2011". Pakmet.com.pk. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
39. http://www.pakimag.com/places/lahore-snow-hailstorm-pics-feb-26-2011.html
40. http://www.pakimag.com/tag/lahore-hailstorm
41. http://www.newsviewspedia.com/lahore-gets-rare-hailstorm-wonderfully.html
42. http://lahorenama.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/hail-storm-in-lahore/
43. http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/rare-freak-hailstorm-causes?xg_source=activity
44. http://web.archive.org/web/20120315185018/http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfallfeb11.htm. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Pakistan Meteorology Department
• Climate Data Of Lahore