KARACHI: Strong northeasterly cold, winds gripped the metropolis on Wednesday — the first day of new year 2020 — and turned the weather more chilly in Pakistan's southern port city.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded the mercury dipping down to a minimum level of 9°C during the last 24 hours. It recorded temperature at 14°C at around 12 noon on January 1 but the mercury felt like 11 or 12°C, which was the effect of northeasterly winds in the city.
Temperatures in the whole country have dropped down to a very low level due to the cool northern winds coming from Siberia. The PMD forecast that chilly winds from the northeast could continue for at least two more days in Karachi, which is expected to push the temperature to a minimum level of 7-8°C.
People were advised to take precautionary measures, especially protect their children from the cold winds, the PMD said. It also forecast cold and dry weather with gusty winds in Karachi during the next 24 hours.
The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to remain in the ranges of 8-10°C and 21-23°C, respectively, during the next 24 hours.
Dry weather with cold night and misty or foggy mornings is likely to prevail over upper and central parts, whereas hazy or misty mornings are expected to prevail elsewhere in Sindh during the next 24 hours.
Gusty winds may also occur along the coast.