The climate
of Pakistan varies widely, with sharp differences between
the high mountains and low plains. The country experiences
four seasons. In the mountainous regions of the north
and west, temperatures fall below freezing during winter
and are mild during summer. In the Indus plains, temperatures
range between about 32° and 49°C (about 90° and
120°F) in summer, and the average in winter is
about 13°C (about 55°F).
Mountainous areas receive most precipitation as heavy
snowfall in winter. In other areas of Pakistan, most precipitation
comes with the summer monsoons during July and August.
The summer monsoons are seasonal winds that bring torrential
rainfall, breaking the hot, dry spell and providing much-needed
relief. The rainfall is so heavy that it causes rivers
in Punjab and Sind provinces to flood the lowland areas.
Rainfall is scarce the rest of the year. Punjab Province
has the most precipitation in the country, receiving more
than 500 mm (20 in) per year. In contrast, the arid regions
of the southeast (the Thar Desert in Sind) and southwest
(Baluchistan) receive less than 125 mm (5 in) annually.
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