Port city residents shiver at 7.1 Celsius

Siberian winds grip Karachi, mercury to drop further, says weatherman

KARACHI:

The residents of the port city, accustomed to its mild winters, were left shivering on Friday morning as mercury dipped to 7.1 Celsius near dawn.

Karachi is in the grip of an intense cold wave as Siberian winds sweeping across the region have pushed temperatures sharply downward, with the mercury dropping by at least three degrees Celsius over the past 24 hours. Official weather data shows that the city experienced one of its coldest spells of the season, with further declines expected today and tomorrow, keeping temperatures firmly in the single digits.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the city's official weather station at the old observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.3°C on Friday, while an even lower 7.1°C was recorded at Jinnah Terminal Airport. Meteorologists have warned that the cold may intensify further, with minimum temperatures likely to fall to around 8°C during the weekend. The current cold wave is expected to persist at least until Tuesday.

Despite the severity of the cold, meteorologists have clarified that no historical temperature records are being broken during the current spell. Karachi's lowest-ever temperature remains 0°C, recorded in 1934. In subsequent years, notable lows included 1.3°C in 1986; 6.5°C in 2014; 5.6°C in 2020; 8.9°C in 2024; and between 6.2°C and 8°C in January 2025.

The biting chill has effectively brought daily life to a standstill, with residents reporting freezing conditions not only during early morning and late-night hours but throughout the day as well. Continuous temperature decline has left Karachiites shivering, prompting many to take extra precautions against the unusually harsh winter spell.

Chief Meteorologist Karachi, Ameer Haider Laghari, said the prevailing cold wave is the result of strong north-easterly winds blowing in from Balochistan. He explained that a western weather system had recently entered Pakistan, triggering rainfall in Balochistan and northern parts of the country. "It is a natural process that cold winds follow a rain-bearing system. Once the system exits, cold air masses move in, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures," he said.

Laghari added that there is no likelihood of rain in Karachi over the next week, despite the continued cold conditions. However, the chilly weather is expected to linger, keeping nighttime and early morning temperatures particularly low.

PMD Early Warning Centre forecasts indicate that Saturday and Sunday could see minimum temperatures touching 8°C in Karachi.

3 degree Celsius in Mohenjo Daro

The cold wave has not been limited to Karachi alone. Large parts of rural Sindh are also experiencing severe cold, with temperatures plunging well below seasonal averages. On Friday, Mohenjo Daro recorded the lowest temperature in the province at 3°C, followed by Mithi at 4°C and Larkana at 4.5°C. Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sakrand, Dadu, Mirpurkhas and Chhor recorded minimum temperatures of around 5°C.