Climate of Hyderabad
Encyclopedia
Hyderabad, Sindh
is the second largest city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the seventh largest city in the country. The city was founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro upon the ruins of a Mauryan fishing village along the bank of the Indus known as Neroon Kot...
features an arid climate. The days are hot and dry, usually going up to extreme highs of 40 °C (104 °F), while the nights are cool and breezy. Winds usually bring along clouds of dust, and people prefer staying indoors in the daytime, while the breezes at night are pleasant and clean.
In recent years Hyderabad has seen heavy downpours. In February 2003, Hyderabad received 105 millimetres (4.1 in) of rain in 12 hours, due to a sudden climate change. The years 2006, 2007 and 2009 saw close contenders to this record rainfall.
Factors
The monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
and the Western Disturbance
Western Disturbance
Western Disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to describe an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by...
are the two main factors that change the weather over Hyderabad; otherwise, Continental air prevails for rest of the seasons. Following are the main factors that influence the weather over Hyderabad city.
- Western Disturbances generally occur during the winter months and cause drizzle to light showers, temperatures also decrease due to it.
- Dust storms occur rarely during the month of May and June.
- Southeast Monsoon occurs in summer from the month of June till September. Monsoon rains bring much awaited relief from the scorching heat. These monsoon rains are quite heavy by nature and can cause significant flooding.
- Continental air prevails during the period when there is no precipitation in the city.
Seasonal climate
Like other cities, Hyderabad has four seasons: winter, summer, autumn and spring. The monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
season occurs in the summer.
Winter
The winter season begins in the month of December and lasts till February. The Western DisturbanceWestern Disturbance
Western Disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to describe an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by...
influences the winter season. The lowest temperature in the winter was 3.3 °C (37.9 °F), recorded on January 21, 1973. The highest temperature in winter was 38.2 °C (100.8 °F), recorded on February 16, 1993. Light to moderate showers occur in winter, which decreases the temperature further due to the Western Disturbance
Western Disturbance
Western Disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to describe an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by...
. The highest monthly rainfall in winter 106 millimetres (4.2 in) was recorded in February 2003. The fastest rainfall in 24 hours was also recorded on 18 February 2003: 105 millimetres (4.1 in) was recorded in less than 12 hours.
Spring
The spring season begins in March and lasts till April. Being a dry city, Hyderabad's spring season is almost not felt. The highest temperature of spring was 46 °C (114.8 °F), recorded on April 2, 2002, while the lowest 12 °C (53.6 °F) was recorded on March 7, 1994. Rains are rare in the spring season. The highest monthly rainfall 47.2 millimetres (1.9 in) was recorded in the month of March. The fastest rainfall in 24 hours 46.7 millimetres (1.8 in) was recorded on 2 April 1963.Summer
The summer season begins in May and lasts till September. Summer is the longest season in Hyderabad. MonsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
rains also occur in this season; these rains last from June till September. Extremely high temperatures are recorded in the summer. Heavy rains are also occur during the monsoon season. The highest temperature recorded in summer was 48.5 °C (119.3 °F), recorded on 7 June 1991, while the lowest 19 °C (66.2 °F) was recorded on May 4, 1989. The heaviest rainfall for Hyderabad also occurred in summer on September 12, 1962, when 250.7 mm of rain fell in 24 hours. The wettest month in Hyderabad is July. The highest monthly rainfall in summer 286 millimetres (11.3 in) was recorded in September 1962. In June 2010, Cyclone Phet
Cyclone Phet
Cyclone Phet was the third named cyclone of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Phet developed from a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea that organized into a tropical cyclone on May 31...
's moisture caused heavy downpours in the city; a total of 76 millimetres (3 in) rainfall was recorded with 32 mph winds.
Autumn
This season begins in October and ends in November. Hazy and dry weather is the main factor of autumn. The highest temperature 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) was recorded on October 8, 1987, and the lowest temperature was 6.7 °C (44.1 °F), recorded on 28 November 1966. Showers do occur in this season late in November from the Western Disturbances. The highest monthly rainfall in autumn was 103.3 mm in October 2004, while the fastest 24-hour rainfall in autumn 85.6 millimetres (3.4 in) was recorded on 3 October 2004. In October 2004, Cyclone OnilCyclone Onil
Severe Cyclonic Storm Onil was the first tropical cyclone to be named in the northern Indian Ocean...
created havoc in the city, with 98 millimetres (3.9 in) rainfall, and caused the drainage system to collapse.
Monsoon rainfall in Hyderabad
The average annual rainfall (January to December) for Hyderabad is 136.1 millimetres (5.4 in). The highest annual rainfall was 455 millimetres (17.9 in), recorded in 2006. The average monsoon rainfall for Hyderabad is 100 millimetres (3.9 in). Following is the annual monsoon rainfall (June till September) since 2008. The following is the annual monsoon rainfall for the last few years based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological DepartmentPakistan Meteorological Department
The Pakistan Meteorological Department, also known as Pak Met Office, is a Government of Pakistan organization which works under the Ministry of Defence...
.
- In 2003, a total of 286 millimetres (11.3 in) rainfall was recorded.
- In 2005, a total of 29 millimetres (1.1 in) rainfall was recorded.
- In 2006, a total of 455 millimetres (17.9 in) rainfall was recorded.
- In 2008, a total of 115 millimetres (4.5 in) rainfall was recorded.
- In 2009, a total of 209 millimetres (8.2 in) rainfall was recorded.
- In 2010, a total of 213 millimetres (8.4 in) rainfall was recorded.
- In 2011, a total of 415.4 millimetres (16.4 in) rainfall was recorded.
See also
- Climate of SindhClimate of SindhThe province of Sindh is situated in a subtropical region; it is hot in the summer and cold in winter. Temperatures frequently rise above between May and August, and the minimum average temperature of occurs during December and January. The annual rainfall averages about seven inches, falling...
- Climate of KarachiClimate of KarachiThe climate of Karachi features an arid climate, albeit a moderate version of this climate. Karachi is located on the coast and as a result has a relatively mild climate. Karachi has two main seasons; Summer & Winter, while spring and autumn are very short. Summer season persists for longest period...
- Climate of NawabshahClimate of NawabshahThe climate of Nawabshah is hot to extremely hot during the summers and cold/foggy during the winters. The highest temperatures each year in Pakistan, typically rising to above , are usually recorded in Nawabshah District and Sibbi from May to August...
- Climate of PakistanClimate of PakistanPakistan lies in the temperate zone. The climate is generally varied throughout the country, characterized by hot summers and cool or cold winters. The upper parts of Pakistan usually receive precipitation from the Western Disturbance...