Weatherman predicts no respite as city bakes in heatwave

The metropolitan city experienced extreme heat on Tuesday as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius. The absence of sea breeze and increased humidity made the temperature feel even higher. The weatherman predicts another hot day today (Thursday), with a chance of thunderstorms and rain across the megalopolis, including suburban areas.

During Tuesday’s heatwave, humidity levels reached 73 per cent in the morning and 66 per cent by evening due to the absence of southwest sea breezes and hot desert winds from Balochistan. This contributed to the heightened temperature surpassing the recorded maximum of 40.3 degrees Celsius, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

Light to moderate rain was reported in different areas on the outskirts of the metropolis such as Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Steel Town, Scheme 33, and Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Tuesday, while areas like Clifton experienced drizzles.

The PMD’s Early Warning Centre forecasts a gradual onset of the monsoon season in Sindh, with continued hot and humid weather in Karachi until July 18. Thunderstorms accompanied by rain are expected in suburban regions during this period, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius. Morning humidity levels may range from 70-80 per cent, dropping to 60-70 per cent in the evenings, exacerbating the perceived heat.

The Early Warning Center predicts thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rain across several districts of Sindh, including Dadu, Qambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, and Tando Muhammad Khan from July 20 to 21. Similarly, from July 21 to 22, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Thatta, Sujawal, and Jamshoro are expected to experience thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rain.