The climate and weather of northern Pakistan are controlled by elevation. High mountains above 16,000 feet remain snowy throughout the year, and narrow valleys have an extreme climate in both summer and winter.
In the area under discussion, as a rule, cold winters and mild summers. The following is a brief description of the temperature and precipitation area.
temperature
High mountains are recorded below freezing temperatures throughout the year. While the temperatures of the deep valleys show extreme fluctuations in the summer and winter. The daily temperature range is also very high. For example, Gilgit, rising to an altitude of about 4500 feet and surrounded by high mountains, records temperatures in mid-July in July, which often exceed 100 F, while due to intense katabatic effects, nighttime can fall to 60 F. High daytime range 40 F! However, the same station records temperatures up to 20 F during the peak of winter during January.
Skardu, at a higher level of about 7,500 feet, has a slightly milder summer. But even here temperatures above 95 F are not uncommon in the middle of summer. It is interesting to note that this is the same place where the record for the coldest city in Pakistan is stored. January 24, 1994 Skardu recorded a temperature of -16 F! This clearly shows that deep valleys surrounded by high mountains such as Gilgit and Skardu show extreme temperatures in summer and winter.
Precipitation
During the year, precipitation on high mountains in the form of snow. On low, deep clay rocks it is in summer in the form of rain and snow in winter.
The main rain system in this area is western disturbance, which affects this region from December to April each year and gives moderate rainfall.
Summer is almost rainy. The summer month in Gilgit does not exceed 0.5 inches of precipitation. The numbers for Skardu are similar. There is a general lack of precipitation. Not surprisingly, in places like Gilgit, a few miles from the city, you can see sand dunes.
Relative humidity is low throughout the year, and the wind is very cold and dry from the northeast, especially in Skardu in winter.
In short, the climate of northern Pakistan shows extreme temperatures with a total precipitation deficit throughout the year.
