Karachi

Karachi, Pakistan, faced severe weather conditions on Sunday with temperatures reaching 39.2°C, but due to high humidity levels, it felt like 55°C, as reported by source. Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist at Pakistan’s Meteorological Department, highlighted that the city’s average monthly temperature has been 4 degrees Celsius higher than usual during this ongoing heatwave, making the weather exceptionally challenging.

This Sunday, temperatures soared to 39.2°C, with a ‘feels-like’ temperature of 55°C by 5 pm. These are the hottest conditions since the 2015 heatwave, stated Sarfaraz. He noted a recurrence of similar weather patterns after nine years, with deviations from the monthly average consistently above four degrees Celsius in Karachi during this heatwave.

The Meteorological Department recorded a maximum temperature of 42°C this year, attributing the heatwaves to low atmospheric pressure areas, similar to those in 2015 and 2024. Sarfaraz emphasized Karachi’s unique challenge of high humidity, which significantly increases perceived temperatures, making the heat more unbearable. Throughout the week, humidity levels remained at or above 50 percent.

He also pointed out historical temperature records for Karachi, noting that the highest June temperature reached 47°C in 1979, and the highest May temperature was 48°C in 1938. Connecting recent extreme weather events to climate change, Sarfaraz referenced studies suggesting that global warming is intensifying weather patterns, leading to more frequent and severe heatwaves.