Karachi Heatwave Persists as October Forecast to Be Hotter Than Normal
KARACHI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Karachi’s prolonged spell of unusually hot weather is continuing, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasting hot and humid conditions and warning that October could also be warmer than normal.
The intensity of the heat has remained elevated since the first week of September. On September 21, Karachi recorded a maximum temperature of 40.7°C, making it the city’s hottest September day since 2017, according to PMD-linked reporting.
The temperature eased slightly afterwards, with the maximum falling to 39.1°C on September 22. For Wednesday, September 23, the Meteorological Department forecast hot and humid conditions, with temperatures potentially reaching around 38°C.
Official PMD-linked observations early Wednesday showed Karachi at 28°C, with relative humidity at 81%. The department’s forecast data indicated partly cloudy conditions over the coming days.
Sea breezes of around 15 to 35 kilometres per hour were expected on Wednesday, while humidity during the next 24 hours could range between 55% and 85%, according to the Express report citing the Meteorological Department.
The recent heat has been notable by Karachi’s historical September standards. Dawn reported that the temperature reached around 41°C on September 21, the highest September reading in the city in about a decade. PMD data cited by the newspaper showed Karachi’s all-time September record remains 43°C, recorded in 1951.
Meteorologists have linked the current conditions partly to an earlier-than-usual end to the monsoon, reducing the moderating influence normally associated with late-September weather. Pakistan’s monsoon season typically continues until around September 30, according to the Meteorological Department.
The department said Karachi’s September temperature has been running about 0.8°C above normal. It also indicated that October — already typically one of Karachi’s warmer months outside the peak pre-monsoon summer — could experience above-normal temperatures.
The Express report also cited El Niño as a factor that could contribute to warmer-than-normal conditions during October. The forecast concerns monthly temperature tendencies rather than meaning that every day in October will experience heatwave conditions.
PMD climate research identifies September and October as part of Karachi’s warmer period, when heatwave risk can increase during dry conditions. The city’s coastal location normally moderates temperatures, but disruptions to the sea breeze can allow temperatures to rise sharply.
For residents, the immediate outlook is therefore for continued warm conditions, although temperatures are expected to be lower than the exceptional readings recorded earlier this week.
