Karachi shivers as temperature drops to single digits

Karachi begins week with a brisk winter morning, colder days ahead.

Listen to article

Karachi witnessed a significant drop in temperature on Monday as icy winds from Balochistan intensified the winter chill, with the mercury falling to 9°C, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The cold weather was amplified by gusty northeastern winds, making it feel 2°C to 4°C colder than the recorded temperature, Express News reported.

Morning fog reduced visibility to 3 kilometres in some parts of the city, creating minor disruptions.

The PMD predicts a dry and cold spell in Karachi over the next 24 hours, with maximum temperatures peaking at 26°C and minimum temperatures possibly dropping to 8°C.

Throughout the day, winds are expected to blow from the northeast at speeds of 5 to 15 kilometres per hour. Residents are advised to prepare for colder nights and mornings as the winter season

Last week, it was predicted that Karachi is set to experience a significant drop in temperature, with the mercury expected to fall into single digits starting from January 4 as a cold wave intensifies across Pakistan.

Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said that temperature in Karachi could drop to a single digit low of 6°C, with the cold spell lasting for about a week.

He addressed speculation about breaking Karachi’s historical low temperature record, which stands at 0°C, set in January 1934. He dismissed the possibility, stating that there is no likelihood of the city surpassing this record.

Sardar Sarfraz predicted that the cold snap would last for the next one to two weeks, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above 8-10°C and nighttime temperatures potentially dropping to as low as 2-4°C in some areas of the country.

Sarfraz further explained that cold winds originating from Quetta will move toward Karachi, bringing a chill that will be felt nationwide.

He attributed the drop in temperatures to a high-pressure system building in the north, which is pushing cold air masses southward.