Winter is here: Karachi to witness temperature as low as 17°C in next 24 hours

Karachi recorded the lowest temperature of 16.5 degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Wednesday morning. 

During the next 24 hours, the weather in the port city is likely to remain dry with a light fog and a minimum temperature of 17°C to 19°C. 

As per the Met department, the highest temperature may be recorded at 31°C to 33°C. 

It said that the humidity level in the city is 66%, while northeastern winds are blowing at a slow pace.

Overall outlook 

Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next 12 hours, while foggy conditions are likely to prevail in plain districts of Punjab in the morning hours, Radio Pakistan reported.

Lower-than-normal air pressure and a weak La Nina situation are expected to prevail in the country, according to the Met department's outlook for the remaining and next two months.

It stated overall, a tendency for normal to below-normal precipitation is likely over the country with maximum negative departure over the northern half.

Northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan may receive below-normal precipitation whereas southern Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh are expected to receive nearly normal precipitation during the forecast season.

"The temperatures are expected to remain above normal over northern parts of the country, slightly above normal over western to south-western parts and nearly normal over eastern parts with a tendency towards below normal night time temperatures over southwestern parts during the forecast season," the outlook document stated.

Impact

• The temperatures are expected to decrease gradually during the forecast season.
• Dry conditions during the start of the season will be favourable for harvesting of kharif crops in the country. However, the rabi crops especially wheat would be required to irrigate at regular intervals for healthier growth at initial/vegetative stages.
• Dry conditions will have negative impact on air quality index in urban (southern and central Punjab) areas of the country.
• Dust-raising winds will also start in southern parts of the Punjab, upper Sindh.