Hailstorm knocks on Karachi's door after 4 years, Karachiites stand mesmerised

Thunderous affair increases intensity of cold weather in metropolitan

KARACHI: The intensity of cold weather has increased in Karachi after parts of the metropolitan were hit by a hailstorm and heavy rainfall in the wee hours on Monday.

The hailstones carpeted streets and rooftops, dropping the temperature by 13°C after the metropolis received a maximum 12.7mm rain.

According to Express News, the heavy rainfall caused electricity load-shedding in several areas of the city. The thunderstorm lasted until fajr time leaving major areas of the city in blackout.

Officials in the Met department told The Express Tribune that the city received ice pellets with rain in DHA, Saddar, Landhi, Sharea Faisal and Gulistan-e-Jauhar areas. “The ice-pellets fall from clouds in cold weather. The last time Karachi witnessed a hailstorm like this was in 2013 and there is no further chance of it,” said Abdul Rashid, Director Climate Data Processing Centre, Karachi.

Giving out further details, Rashid said that their observatory in Saddar recorded 12.7 mm rain with thunderstorm. He said, 11 mm has been recorded in Landhi, 9.6 mm in North Karachi, 4.4 mm in Gulistan-e-Jauhar,  9mm at Faisal Base, 6.6 mm Pehlwan Goth, and 8.4 mm at Karachi airport. “There is no further forecast for rain but the temperature is likely to fall between 11 to 13 degrees centigrade in this week in the city,” he said.

Meanwhile, the accumulated water on the city’s main thoroughfares is affecting the flow of traffic at different places, adding to the difficulties of the daily commuters.