Weather update: Will it finally rain in Karachi today?

Anticipated rain is expected to arrive in the afternoon, ending persistent heat spell and lowering temperature to 31°C

KARACHI:

Residents of Karachi may finally get some relief from the ongoing heatwave as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast isolated dust thunderstorms with rain in some areas today.

The anticipated rain is expected to arrive in the afternoon, potentially ending the persistent heat spell that has gripped the city for weeks.

The Met Office predicts temperatures to rise between 35°C to 37°C, with the minimum temperature recorded at 31°C in the last 24 hours.

Winds from the west and southwest are currently blowing at 12 kilometres per hour, with humidity levels at 73%, according to PMD.

Read Weather update: How’s the weather going to be in Karachi today?

Despite the forecasted rain, the Met Office warns that the weather will likely remain hot and humid over the next 24 hours, accompanied by stormy conditions that may persist into tomorrow.

Meanwhile, weather experts warned that torrential rains could cause flash floods in AJK, northeastern Balochistan, and the hilly streams of Dera Ghazi Khan in a day or two. Urban flooding was anticipated in the Pothohar region, upper Punjab.

Severe rainfall also posed risk of landslides in Murree, Galyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, potentially disrupting traffic, the PMD forecast. In most districts of Balochistan, the weather would remain hot and humid, it added.

In preparation for the upcoming monsoon, the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) of Karachi has declared a rain emergency, appointing special teams for the timely drainage of rainwater. A CBC spokesperson announced that 1,288 staffers have been assigned special duties under the rain emergency plan, with 638 staffers in seven sectors and 650 dedicated to rainwater drainage.