Climate Killa Saifullah
The climate of Killa Saifullah, generally elevated at 1,500-2,200 meters above sea level, is semi-arid (steppe) kalt (cold) – BSk. It can be placed in "warm summer and cool winter" temperature region. The summer is warm with mean temperatures ranging from 21°C to 32
° C. June is the hottest month when mean maximum temperatures exceed 32° C but do not rise above 38° C, however, the mean temperature, even in the hottest month, remains below 32° C. The winter is cool and longer than summer. It lasts for about 7 months (October-April). In winter the mean temperature is below 10°C and in the coolest month (January) the mean monthly temperature drops below 10° C. Frost is common and the low temperature is caused by high elevation. Kan Mehterzai is at a height of 2,170 meters above sea level and remains snow-clad in January and February when mercury remains below freezing point during the cold spells. Nights are chilly in Killa Saifullah district and cold katabatic winds can confine the inhabitants to their homes.
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Source: |
Pakistan Meteorological Department, Karachi |
The mean annual rainfall ranges between 125 and 500 mm, most of which comes in winter from the western depressions. A considerable part of winter precipitation comes as snowfall. The rainfall is less than potential evapotranspiration, hence, the area is semi-arid. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the total annual precipitation in 1995 was 279.1 mm at Zhob. By the extent of vegetation in Killa Saifullah it can be assumed that the level of precipitation here is more than that in Zhob.
Annual Mean Rainfall
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Source: |
Pakistan Meteorological Department, Karachi |
To date no meteorological station has ever been established in the district by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Zhob is the neighbouring district of Killa Saifullah and has almost similar geographic characteristics, therefore, data from Zhob station have been given here just to have an idea of the situation. In 1993, the total annual rainfall in Zhob district was 217.3 mm which increased to 392.1 mm in 1994 and again decreased to 279.1 mm in 1995. On the basis of geographical assimilation, it may be assumed that Killa Saifullah does have approximately equivalent rainfall levels. Winter rainfall provides water for Rabi crops, i.e., wheat, barley and cumin.
Annual Mean Temperature
At Zhob station of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, mid summer mean maximum temperature (in June) variation in the years 1993-1995 was just one degree centigrade (from 36.9
° C to 37.9° C) while mid summer mean minimum temperature ranged from 22.2° C to 23.8° C. The mid winter mean maximum temperature (in January), 10.4° C, in 1993 increased to 13.5° C in 1995 and mean minimum temperature in mid winter 1993 was -2.4° C which increased to 1.5° C in January 1995 (see Annex 3 for details).
The consistency of the annual mean maximum temperature and mean minimum temperature data over the years is hard to evaluate as temperature data are not available for December 1993 and January 1994 at Zhob. However the available data reveal that in the hottest month the mean temperature has been less than 32
° C, while it was between 0° C to 10° C during the coolest months. This data validate the climatic categorisation of the district as "warm summer and cool winter".Back to Killa Saifullah