The weather extremes in Pakistan include extremely high and extremely low temperatures, heaviest rainfalls and floodings. Pakistan has one of the highest temperature ranges in the world (temperature range refers to the difference between highest and lowest recorded temperatures ever) with proven weather conditions ranging from as high as like those in the Sahara desert, to as low as those like in Alaska making it one of the most climatically diverse countries in the world. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan is which was recorded in Turbat, Balochistan and Moenjo Daro, Sindh on 28 May 2017 and 26 May 2010 respectively. It was not only the hottest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan but also the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded on the continent of Asia and the fourth-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. The highest rainfall of was recorded in Islamabad on 23 July 2001. That record-breaking rain fell in just 10 hours.
Temperature
The standard measuring conditions for temperature are 1.2 meters above the ground out of direct sunlight (hence the term, x degrees "in the shade").
High temperature
Heat waves mostly occur during summer months but in Pakistan heat waves occur at any time period between April and September and bring high temperatures but most powerful heat waves occur in May and June. Some areas of southern Pakistan usually experience above temperature and play havoc in these areas. The most deadly heat wave in the history of Pakistan is the record-breaking heat wave of summer 2010 which occurred in the last ten days of May. Heat spreads throughout the north-central part of the country including Punjab and KPK.
List of cities with temperature of 50 °C or above
Temperature extremes in Pakistan over based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2022 and other sources
List of cities with temperature of 45 °C or above but below 50 °C
Temperature extremes in Pakistan over based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2020 and other sources.
Record breaking heat wave of April 2017
A severe heat wave with temperatures as high as hit Pakistan, especially southern parts, in April 2017. This heat wave broke the old temperature records of many cities in the country in the month of April. Larkana, Sindh experienced the highest maximum temperature of on 19 April and broke its old record of which was recorded in April 2000. Other cities of the country also broke their old records of highest maximum temperatures in the month of April.
Recorded temperatures
Extreme temperatures started to affect the parts of the country from mid-April and peaked on 19–20 April.
Record breaking 2010 summer heat wave
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Asia and the fourth highest temperature ever recorded in the world was in Mohenjo-daro, Sindh at while the second-hottest temperature ever recorded in Asia and the fifth-highest temperature ever recorded in the world was in Larkana, Sindh at on May 26, 2010. Twelve cities in Pakistan saw temperatures above during the extreme heatwave of summer 2010, which lasted from May 22 to May 31, 2010. On May 27, temperatures higher than hit areas across Pakistan and at least 18 people died as a result. Also, during the extreme heatwave season, 11 cities saw their highest-ever recorded temperatures of or above, and five cities saw temperatures of . Eleven cities also saw extremes of more than but below . The previous record for Pakistan and for Asia was on June 12, 1919, at at Jacobabad.
Low temperature
Cold waves mostly occur during winter months but in northern and western Pakistan cold waves occur at any time period between October and March and bring low temperatures but most powerful cold waves occur in December and January. Some areas of northern and western Pakistan usually experience below 0 °C temperature and play havoc in these areas. The coldest place in Pakistan can be the glacial parts of Gilgit Baltistan, where in winters the average temperature remains below -20. The K2 Peak has recorded -65 °C. The most deadly cold wave in the recent history of Pakistan is the record-breaking cold wave of winter 2020. Temperatures in the hottest places in Pakistan fell below 2 °C or more, as well as cities near the foothills of the Himalayas including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore can record temperatures below freezing. It is not uncommon for Islamabad to receive snow in strong cold spells, the Khyber Hills in Peshawar, Hayatabad can also receive light snowfall.
List of Some Important cities of Pakistan with temperature of 0 °C or below Official data (according to Pakistan Metrological Department)