PMD warns of hot, dry June ahead

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across most parts of the country during June and the upcoming three-month period, warning of intensified heatwaves, water shortages, and increased challenges for the agriculture sector.

According to the PMD, the country received an average of 22.4 millimetres of rainfall in May 2026, around 10 per cent below normal levels. The mean temperature stood at 29.2 degrees Celsius, which was 0.8 degrees above the long-term average.

Punjab recorded 29.7 millimetres of rainfall during May, 19 per cent above normal, while Sindh received only 0.3 millimetres, marking a deficit of 91 per cent. Rainfall in Balochistan remained 71 per cent below normal, whereas Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 33 per cent above-normal precipitation.

In its monthly outlook for June 2026, the department said rainfall is likely to remain near normal to slightly below normal across most parts of Pakistan. The largest rainfall deficits are expected in northeastern Punjab, Kashmir, and adjoining areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In contrast, Gilgit-Baltistan and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are likely to receive slightly above-normal rainfall.

The PMD said the El Niño phase has re-emerged in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to persist in the coming months, while the Indian Ocean Dipole remains in a neutral phase. These climatic conditions could result in uneven spatial distribution of rainfall across the country.