The relentless summer heatwave continues to grip Karachi, with Thursday night marking the third hottest night in July, as the temperature remained stubbornly high at a minimum of 32 degrees Celsius. The situation was exacerbated by a delay in the sea breeze due to low air pressure, intensifying the discomfort for residents.
The city faced conditions reminiscent of the deadly 2015 heatwave on Ashura, with temperatures soaring and the heat index peaking at a staggering 56 degrees Celsius, worsened by high humidity levels.
According to the Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD), Thursday’s minimum temperature matched the July 1 and July 17 record earlier this month. This made it the third hottest night of July 2024, surpassing the peak minimum temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius recorded in July 2021 and 2022.
The oppressive heat blanketed the city from morning until the afternoon. Relief finally arrived around 2 PM in the form of a sea breeze, blowing at up to 21 kilometers per hour. Despite this, the city had already endured extreme temperatures earlier, particularly on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura), when the maximum temperature hit 40.5 degrees Celsius. Combined with a humidity level of 50%, the resulting heat index soared to an unbearable 56 degrees Celsius, causing significant discomfort amid the city’s congestion.
The ongoing heatwave has disrupted the usual cooling sea breeze from the southwest. At the same time, hot and humid winds from Balochistan have intensified the sweltering conditions in the bustling megalopolis, home to 25 million people.
Authorities and residents alike are bracing for continued extreme weather, with the PMD urging precautions to mitigate the effects of the intense heat.
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