Pakistan Records Sixth-Hottest October in 66 Years as Temperatures Soar 1.2°C Above Normal
The Pakistan Meteorological Department reports that October 2026 was the country's sixth-warmest October in 66 years, with nighttime temperatures ranking third-highest on record.
Pakistan experienced its sixth-hottest October in 66 years, with the national average temperature running 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department's (PMD) monthly climate report. The country's average temperature for the month settled at 25.2 degrees Celsius, underscoring a persistent warming trend that has been increasingly visible in seasonal data.
The most striking finding was the behaviour of nighttime temperatures. The average minimum temperature came in 2.3 degrees Celsius above normal, making October 2026 the third-hottest October in 66 years in terms of warmer nights. This pattern of elevated night temperatures is significant because it reduces the cooling window that normally helps limit heat stress and energy demand.
Daytime conditions were also notably warm, with the average maximum temperature recorded at 32.1 degrees Celsius. Combined with the unusually warm nights, the figures point to a month in which both ends of the daily temperature range stayed above historical norms across much of the country.
Rainfall offered little relief. The country received an average of just 9.2 millimetres during October, a low figure that is consistent with the warmer, drier conditions reflected in the temperature data. Limited precipitation during such periods can add to pressure on water resources and agriculture.
The PMD's findings add to a growing body of evidence that Pakistan is experiencing more frequent and more intense heat anomalies, a concern for a country already identified as highly vulnerable to climate change. Warmer autumn nights, in particular, can affect crop cycles, increase electricity demand for cooling, and heighten health risks for vulnerable populations.
The monthly report serves as a benchmark for policymakers, researchers and disaster-management authorities tracking long-term climate patterns. With October 2026 now ranked among the warmest in more than six decades, attention is likely to remain on how subsequent months and seasons compare with historical records.
