Overnight rain brings relief to Karachi after hot weather

Rainfall in several areas of Karachi late on Sunday night turned the weather pleasant and offered relief from the city’s hot conditions.

Showers were reported in Buffer Zone, Baldia Town, North Karachi and Nazimabad, where residents welcomed the cooler temperatures. The downpour was followed by a refreshing breeze across much of the city.

In North Nazimabad’s Block G, electricity was suspended soon after the showers began.

Meanwhile in Punjab city of Kabirwala, strong winds and heavy rain were recorded in the town and its outskirts, lowering the temperature but also leading to power cuts in some areas.

Vehari and surrounding areas also received downpour, turning the weather pleasant late in the night.

Dera Ghazi Khan also experienced rain, bringing relief to residents after recent hot conditions.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Sunday evening that maximum temperatures will remain between 32°C and 35°C, with minimum temperatures around 26°C to 28°C. 

Morning humidity will stay high, reaching up to 80 per cent, while dropping to 40 per cent to 70 per cent in the evening, according to the PMD.

Meantime, the Met Office said that Severe Cyclonic Storm Shakti has continued to drift away from Pakistan’s coast, moving west-south-westward over the Arabian Sea and now lying about 800km south-west of Karachi.

The system poses no direct threat to Sindh’s coastline but will keep the weather humid and slightly unstable along coastal districts for the next couple of days. According to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Shakti is expected to move further south-west by Monday (today) before curving eastwards over the west-central and north-west Arabian Sea within 12 hours and gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm.

Meteorologists said the cyclone’s intensity is steadily declining, but its circulation continues to influence the regional weather pattern. Under its current influence, isolated light rain is likely along the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan. 

Sea conditions will remain rough to very rough with squally winds ranging between 40km and 50km per hour, gusting up to 55km near the Sindh coast. Fishermen have once again been strictly advised not to venture into deep seawaters.

The authorities have urged residents along the coastline to avoid unnecessary sea travel, remain cautious and follow PMD advisories as the system weakens and dissipates gradually over the Arabian Sea.