Karachi Braces for Scorching Heat as ‘Feels-Like’ Temperature Nears 49°C

Karachi is bracing for another day of extreme heat, with the perceived or ‘feels-like’ temperature expected to range between 43°C and 49°C on Friday, according to weather analysts.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that actual maximum temperatures in the city are likely to hover between 37°C and 39°C, but a combination of hot, dry weather and a persistent disruption in the sea breeze is making conditions feel much hotter.

Meteorologists attribute the ongoing heatwave to a combination of wind circulation over India’s Gujarat region and the presence of a western weather system, both of which are intensifying heat in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. The PMD forecasts that the hot and dry spell will continue for several days, with little relief expected in the immediate future.

A pre-monsoon weather system is expected to begin affecting eastern Sindh from Saturday evening, bringing the possibility of rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms to isolated locations in Tharparkar and Umarkot.

On Sunday, strong winds and rainfall are also forecast for Ghotki, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Tharparkar, and surrounding areas. Weather experts say wind activity over Gujarat may further trigger pre-monsoon developments in Sindh in the coming days.

Elsewhere in Pakistan, the heatwave remains severe. Lahore recorded temperatures of 44°C on Thursday, with the heat index reaching 47°C due to a prolonged dry spell.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, temperatures in Peshawar hit 40°C and are expected to rise to 44°C, with humidity at 52%. Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu saw temperatures peak at 47°C, while much of the Cholistan Desert neared 48°C. The intense heat in southern Punjab is expected to persist for at least two more days.