Karachi records hottest day of the season as sea breeze weakens

KARACHI: Karachi experienced its hottest day of the season on Sunday after sea breezes weakened and atmospheric pressure increased, pushing temperatures sharply higher, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Chief Meteorologist Karachi Amir Haider Laghari said the maximum temperature climbed by around 3.7 degrees Celsius compared to the previous day and reached about 39.5 degrees Celsius. He said humidity remained near 35 per cent, a factor that kept the weather from qualifying as a full heatwave, although conditions were still humid and uncomfortable.

Laghari said a low-pressure system near Oman interfered with the southwest sea breeze, leading to a temporary rise in heat intensity across Karachi. He added that sea winds were partially to fully blocked during the day, which contributed to the increase in temperature.

Officials said that despite the unusually hot conditions, the weather did not meet the formal criteria for a heatwave. The temperature recorded during the day was around 4.8 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

Sea breeze disruption raises heat intensity

The Pakistan Meteorological Department linked the spike in temperature to a disruption in the normal sea breeze pattern that usually helps moderate Karachi’s weather. With the southwest winds affected by the low-pressure system near Oman, the city saw a noticeable increase in daytime heat.

According to Laghari, the interruption in sea winds was temporary. He said meteorologists were expecting atmospheric conditions to gradually return to normal in the coming days.

The Met Office expects temperatures to begin easing from Tuesday as sea breezes regain their influence and broader weather conditions stabilise. Until then, the city is likely to continue experiencing warm and humid conditions.

The latest reading marked a significant departure from the seasonal norm, underlining the impact that changes in wind flow and regional pressure systems can have on Karachi’s weather even over a short period.

While the city avoided heatwave classification, Sunday’s weather stood out as the hottest of the season so far, with the combination of elevated temperature and humidity making conditions difficult for residents across Karachi.