Scorching heatwave grips Karachi, again, as mercury soars to 39.5°C

PMD warns prevalence of extremely hot and humid weather in southern parts during next 2 days

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Scorching heatwave grips Karachi, again, as mercury soars to 39.5°C
A volunteer sprays water on a bypasser’s face along a street during a hot summer day in Karachi, May 30, 2024, amid the ongoing heatwave. — AFP

Karachiites went through another day of excessive heat as the mercury soared to 39.5°C with 63% humidity on Thursday — a day after the port city suffered the hottest day of the year with the temperature recorded at 41.5°C.

It was the first time this summer, the Sindh capital logged mercury exceeding 40°C in the span of 10 days.

The metropolis recorded at 40.2°C on May 19 which was the highest temperature on record during 2024 so far.

It is noteworthy to mention here that Karachi had recorded the highest-ever temperature at 48°C on May 9, 1938.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning regarding the prevalence of extremely hot and humid weather in southern parts of the country in the next 2 days.

Continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country while a shallow westerly wave is also present over northern parts of the country, the PMD stated in its daily weather update.

It forecast: “Mainly hot weather is expected in most areas of country. However, rain-thunderstorm is likely at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.”

The weather forecast department added that on Friday, mainly hot weather is expected in most areas of the country, while very hot with dust-raising winds/gusty winds are likely in southern parts.

However, rain-thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Kashmir, while windstorm/gusty winds with isolated rain-thunderstorms may occur in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pothohar region and northeast Punjab.

According to the PMD’s data, highest maximum temperature was recorded at 51°C in Jacobabad, 50°C in Lasbela, 49°C in Dadu, Sibbi, Turbat, Mohenjo Daro, 48°C in Khairpur, Larkana, Bahawalnagar, 47°C in Hyderabad, Kasur, Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Joharabad, Khanewal, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara, Padidan, Rohri and Noorpur Thal.