Karachi Records Hottest September Temperature in 10 Years

On Monday, Karachi witnessed a scorching temperature of 41°C, setting the city's highest September temperature in ten years. This heat wave extended across Sindh province, with nine cities crossing the 40°C threshold. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that Karachi's highest-ever September temperature was a blistering 43°C, recorded back in 1951. A mere five degrees shy of that record was reached on September 20, 2015.

The extreme heat was not confined to Karachi alone; cities like Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, and Khairpur bore the brunt of the scorching conditions, hitting 42°C. Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder Laghari attributed the ongoing heat and humidity to a persistent low-pressure area blocking the sea breeze. He further noted that temperatures are expected to dip on Tuesday as the low-pressure system has nearly dissipated.

Despite the heat, the system did bring rainfall to some eastern parts of the province; however, most areas, including Karachi, did not receive the much-needed monsoon showers. The PMD has forecasted a largely dry monsoon. Laghari also hinted at the role of El Niño conditions, a natural climate pattern characterized by warmer surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean, contributing to regional atmospheric warming.

On Tuesday, Karachi's temperature is anticipated to hover between 36°C and 38°C. Relative humidity is forecast to remain between 70% and 80% in the morning, dipping to between 45% and 55% in the evening.