Weather update: When will monsoon rains hit Karachi?

Upper parts of country may have devastating effects following torrential rainfall

After enduring days of extreme heat, Karachi residents received some relief on Monday as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed the restoration of the sea breeze.

Despite this, the Met Office forecasts that the city will experience hot and humid weather over the next 24 hours.

A day earlier, Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz noted that monsoon rains are expected to begin after July 8.

The PMD has predicted vigorous monsoon activity in the upper and central parts of the country, with strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal expected to penetrate these regions from July 3.

Heavy to moderate showers are expected to impact the upper catchments of major rivers, including Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab, starting July 2, 2024. The Met Office has warned of potentially devastating effects from the torrential rainfall.

Yesterday, Sarfaraz stated that this heatwave is the most intense since the 2015 heatwave when temperatures soared to 44.8°C.

Humidity levels were recorded at 55%, with a 27-kilometer per-hour sea breeze, keeping temperatures between 35°C and 37°C. The lowest temperature in the last 24 hours was 31.5°C.

The Sindh Health Department reported that the recent heatwave has claimed 49 lives. Abbasi Hospital recorded 23 deaths, Civil Hospital 18, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) 5, and Qatar Hospital 3.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has activated its National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) in anticipation of the upcoming rains.