Karachiites who bear the scorching summer season for almost 10 months in a year, feel totally delighted and thrilled when it comes to winter.
The city witnessed heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorms on Friday after which a cold wave hit the city, turning the weather chilly. The rains at that time of the year were unusual. As February drew to a close and spring was officially here, a day of rain threw a spanner into the sun’s warmth and all spring cleaning
Since the city gets chilly for barely a few days. Hence, the citizens here don’t make big preparations to counter the weather conditions. During the winter a blanket should do as long as no one switches on the fans or air conditioners. Then a mug of steaming tea or coffee is enough to warm the soul and relax the mind.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz on Saturday said that the cold wave is likely to continue till Monday in the metropolis, said the Met Office on Sunday.
The mercury in Karachi has gone down by 4°C, Sarfaraz said, adding that the metropolis recorded a minimum temperature of 14.5°C on Saturday (today).
“The city is likely to record a maximum temperature of 22°C today,” he said adding that the current cold wave was unusual as chilly weather did not usually last in March.
The chief meteorologist said the lowest temperature recorded in the megalopolis was on March 7, 8 and 9 in 1979 — 7°C.
The lowest minimum temperature recorded in the province was 1°C in Mohenjodaro followed by Mithi, where minimum temperature dropped to 3°C.
‘No chance of more rain’
Meanwhile, weather expert Jawad Memon said there was no chance of rain in Karachi as the westerly waves had departed. He said the sky would remain clear and dry with cold nights.
He said the wave of unseasonal cold in Karachi would be short-lived as the winds from Quetta would continue to blow for few days and might touch the speed of 30 to 40 kilometres an hour.
Memon said the private weather station of Clifton had recorded up to 50.4 millimetre rain, which has inundated much of the adjacent areas specially DHA Khyaban-e-Shehbaz, where rainwater has entered houses and the draining work could not be started as of yet.