Raining down: Extreme monsoon weather looms

Increasing sea surface temperature likely to result in heavy showers

ISLAMABAD: The rising sea surface temperature will impact the upcoming monsoon due to which few extreme weather events are likely to occur in Pakistan, potentially causing floods.

Talking to The Express Tribune, environmental experts said that on-going changes in weather patterns are causing increase in the temperature of sea surface. Hence chances are that Pakistan may receive heavy showers during the peak season of monsoon which may result in severe floods. They said though it is not possible to exactly tell when these extreme weather events will occur but as precautionary measures there is a need to take pre-emptive steps.

They said that the recent cyclone occurring in the Arabian Sea is one example of extreme weather events.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director General Dr Ghulam Rasul said pre-monsoon is going to begin in Pakistan in the last week of June. The monsoon will follow in the first week of July which will continue till August. During pre-monsoon light to moderate rain showers are expected due to which the temperature in the month of Ramazan will drop and remain cool, he said.

Meanwhile the PMD is closely monitoring all the changes in the weather patterns around the clock. They will hold a meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) probably on the 15th of June. They will discuss the monsoon season and the necessary precautionary measures to be taken ahead of any untoward situation.

He said though it is a bit early to forecast the intensity of the up-coming monsoon however the current weather patterns suggest that heavy showers are expected during the season. Therefore it is not possible to rule out heavy flooding, Rasul added.

Pervaiz Amir, former member of PM’s task force on climate change said the monsoon intensity will mostly depend on the strength of monsoon in India.

If India will receive heavy rains then it will release water in the River Jehlum and Chenab which will cause floods in Pakistan, he said.

He stressed on the need to start taking precautionary on-ground measures rather than sitting in office and just forecasting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2015.