Cold wave intensifies in Karachi with forecast of intermittent strong winds

KARACHI: The ongoing cold wave in the country's financial hub has intensified with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting intermittent strong winds in the metropolis.

With the minimum temperature recorded at 10.5 degrees Celsius, the Met Office has said that the city's weather is likely to remain cold and dry during the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, with humidity levels at 65% coupled with a 20-kilometre-per-hour wind from the northeast, the minimum temperature is expected to hover between 9°C  and 11°C.

Speaking on Geo News' programme "Geo Pakistan", Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said that strong winds are likely to hit the metropolis afternoon and the cold wave is expected to continue till January 17.

The weather expert also said that several areas of Balochistan are likely to experience rain after January 20.

Furthermore, Karachi on Monday emerged as the third most polluted city in the world with its Air Quality Index (AQI), as per Swiss air quality monitor IQAir, value recorded at 234 — a level classified as "very unhealthy" by the group.

Meanwhile, the concentration of toxic PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter small enough to enter the bloodstream when inhaled — was measured at 159 µg/m³, which is 31.8 times higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

The worsening air quality can be a result of the city's cold weather, as the smog and air pollution issues are common during winter when lower temperatures trap the dust particles closer to the ground. 

The port city, in recent months, has time again recorded one of the highest pollution levels globally. However, it is not the only city with poor AQI as Lahore has also made it to the IQAir's list multiple times.

The Punjab's capital, today, recorded an AQI value of 162 which is deemed "unhealthy" by the monitor.