Climate:
Swat is lying in the Temperate Zone in the northern mountainous ranges of the Indo-Pak Sub–Continent, therefore, here weather is affected by all the climatic factors “latitude, altitude and rain bearing winds” (the cyclone and monsoon winds).
In summer, Swat comes under the influence of the monsoon, while in winter, it is affected by the Cyclonic Current from the Mediterranean Sea.
Temperature:
So for the temperature is concerned, the height of Swat varies from 2500 ft to 7500 ft, therefore, this is colder zone. Due to the absence of meteorological department, we cannot quote the actual recorded data; anyhow, January is the coldest month of the year. The temperature, generally, remains between 40°F and 45°F (2°C to -2°C). The water-freezing season is from the last week of December to the end of February. In mountainous areas it takes more than three months.
The hottest month is July, in which the temperature rises to more than 90 °F (32°C) in the plains, but in mountainous areas, it is lower. In Buner, however, we find a little bit extremity of weather.
Rain Fall:
There are three rain-bearing seasons:
1. Winter Rains 2. Spring Rain 3. Summer
Rains
Winter Rains:
These rains start in December and last to the end of February. When the rainfall starts once, it remains continuous to one or two weeks. This continuous rainfall is called Jarai. The rain of this season is usually, with slow fall and small drops. In the plain, the snowfall takes place from 15th January to the end of February. But in mountainous areas, the snow period is from the beginning of December to the end of March. (In November, the snow also falls on mountains, but melts soon.)
Spring Rains:
The rains from March to May are regarded as the spring rains. In this season, the rainfall occurs in shower with thunder and lightening, and the drops are bigger. The lengthened period of the continuation of the spring rains is destructive for the muddy homes of the poor villagers.
Summer Rains:
Usually, there is a gap of one dry month, June, between the rains of spring and summer. The summer rains begin in July, and end in September. These rains are not so continuous. They are in intermittent position. Sometimes the rainfall takes place suddenly with hailstones, which results in the damages to property and lives. The rain of this season falls with shower and lightning. The annual rainfall is about 50 inch.
The general effects of the weather condition are cold winter and warm summer, and the coldest winter in mountainous areas.
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