Record broken: Mercury soars to 36.5°C in Karachi

Saturday was the hottest February day in city since last 20 years

KARACHI: Saturday was the hottest February day in Karachi in the last 20 years. The mercury shot up to 36.5°C.



“The last time the temperature shot up to 36.1° C was on February 25, 1996,” said Pakistan Meteorological Department spokesperson Abdul Rashid. He added that the sudden change in weather has been caused because of the cut-off in sea breeze. This usually happens when there is a low pressure above the sea, which changes the direction of the air, he explained.

The spokesperson said that currently the city is receiving dry land breeze from the north-east direction, whereas the humidity level in the air has decreased to nine per cent. This unexpected heat is likely to continue till March 2, he added.



General physician Dr Waqar Ahmed advised people to refrain from fizzy drinks and junk food as illnesses, such as flu, are more likely to spread in such climate.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2016.