Rain brings brief respite to people enduring scorching weather

Following an extremely hot and humid week, Karachi experienced a brief spell of showers on Friday afternoon, with different areas receiving light to heavy rain. The humidity levels, however, remained high, slightly reducing the intense heat that has gripped the city.

The highest rainfall was recorded at 14.8mm on University Road, while the lowest was recorded at 1mm in Ibrahim Hyderi. The areas that received the showers included Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Surjani Town, North Karachi, New Karachi, Malir Cantt, Mosamiyat, Sharea Faisal, Bahadurabad, Tipu Sultan, Gulshan-e-Maymar and Gadap.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the city’s maximum temperature reached 38.5°C, with 79 per cent humidity, making the heat index feel like 47°C. This comes after the residents experienced sizzling temperatures over the past few days, with the mercury reaching 40.5°C, which felt like a scorching 56°C due to high humidity.

Sindh Chief Meteorological Officer Dr Sardar Sarfaraz said that light rain was also possible on Friday night, while more intermittent showers, light to moderate in intensity, were also likely on Saturday (today).

Amid the oppressive heat, the city has been dealing with hours-long unannounced load-shedding, adding to the miseries of the people. On Thursday night the temperature remained at 32°C, making it the third-hottest night of the year after July 1 and July 16, when the mercury had reached 32°C as well.

The PMD has forecast thunderstorms on Saturday and light rain or drizzle on Sunday, which might provide further relief to the people from the ongoing heatwave. Dr Sarfaraz said that monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating the southern parts of the country, and a westerly wave is affecting the upper parts of the country.

Rain coupled with thundershowers is likely in Sindh, southern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Balochistan, Potohar Region, Islamabad and Kashmir. Heavy falls are expected at isolated places in southern Punjab and lower Sindh.