Mercury to rise in Karachi as PMD warns of looming heatwave in metropolis

• Karachi's temperature to remain normal for next 10 days.
• City might experience heatwave at end of April: PMD spox.
• Feel-like temperature to be 39°C-41°C due to high humidity.

KARACHI: The residents of the metropolis are likely to witness an increase in temperature on Saturday with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warning of a looming heatwave in the city in the ongoing month.

Weather expert Jawad Memon has warned that owing to a change in wind direction, mercury is expected to hover between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius which will be felt like 39°C to 41°C due to high humidity levels.

However, the weather conditions are likely to improve in the evening due to sea breeze, he added.

Meanwhile, PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir has said that although the weather in Karachi is likely to remain normal for the next 10 days, the city is expected to experience a heat wave at the end of April.

Noting that a moderate drought has been declared in most areas of Sindh, the Met Office official lamented that there was no land (undeveloped/open soil) left in Karachi and due to concrete surfaces the rainwater ends up in the sea instead of being absorbed in the ground.

Calling for the need to implement rain harvesting in the metropolitan city, Nazir said that water wells must be built in areas where there is still open soil and undeveloped land left which can help in increasing the groundwater levels.

Expanding on the prospects of rain, the spokesperson said that international weather apps were forecasting excessive downpours in Pakistan and any prediction with regards to the monsoon season would only be possible at the end of May or the beginning of June.

Lamenting that the country witnesses a 61% drop in the average rainfall in the winter season coupled with a 50% reduced snowfall, the official warned that heatwaves are likely to hit different areas of the country from April 14 to April 19 with temperatures expected between 46°C to 48°C in Sindh.

With temperatures expected to remain above average between April and June, he said that heatwave-like conditions will persist in South Punjab and parts of Sindh.

Also, Nazir said that while the country will experience average rainfall during this time period — which accounts for 19% of the country's water storage — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan will receive less than normal rainfall.

The weather forecast follows PMD's earlier warning of heatwave predicting above 4°C-6°C temperature in central Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir.

Excessive heat may also result in dust storms and windstorms, potentially damaging vulnerable infrastructure such as electric poles, trees, vehicles, and solar panels, the Met Office had warned.

The general public, particularly children, women, and senior citizens, are advised to avoid direct exposure to the sun and remain well-hydrated.

Farmers are also urged to manage their crop activities, particularly wheat harvesting, according to the forecast, and ensure the safety of livestock.

Rising temperatures in northern areas may lead to an accelerated snowmelt — increasing the risk of flooding.