Karachi, May 17: As a week-long heatwave looms over Sindh starting from Tuesday, Karachi is anticipated to face the least impact, according to the latest forecast from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The expected rise in temperatures, ranging from six to eight degrees Celsius above normal, is predicted to affect at least nine cities across the region.
On Monday, the Met department recorded soaring temperatures across various cities, with Jacobabad experiencing the highest at 47°C, followed closely by Mohenjo Daro and Shaheed Benazirabad at 46.5°C. Other cities such as Sakrand, Larkana, and Sukkur also witnessed temperatures well above the norm.
In contrast, Karachi emerged as the “coolest among Sindh districts” with a temperature of 36.3°C and 55% humidity. Recent data from the Met department suggests a slight decrease in maximum daytime temperatures for most cities, offering a temporary relief from the scorching conditions experienced over the weekend.
Meteorological officials attribute these fluctuations to two prevailing weather systems: a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere and a westerly wave. The intensity of the weather experienced on Saturday, characterized by the dominance of the high-pressure system, was alleviated by the arrival of the westerly wave, providing respite to the residents.
However, the westerly wave is expected to pass, leaving the high-pressure area to prevail in the region from Tuesday onwards. Despite this, Karachi is not anticipated to experience a full-fledged heatwave. According to experts, for a heatwave to be declared, daily temperatures must surpass the monthly average by four to five degrees Celsius for at least five consecutive days. Karachi may see exceptions of intense heat for a day or two, similar to last Saturday, with maximum temperatures projected to range between 36-38°C.
Dr. Sarfaraz, a meteorologist, highlighted the historical significance of May as the hottest month across Pakistan. He noted that global warming has exacerbated the frequency of hot and dry weather patterns, citing the prolonged heatwave experienced by Sindh and South Punjab in 2022, where affected areas were significantly warmer than the national average for March and April.
