Tuesday was an exceptionally hot day in Karachi, with temperatures reaching 39.5°C—much higher than the 32.6°C normal for March. With temperatures topping 39°C since Saturday, this is the third day in a row of extremely hot weather.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has attributed the extreme heat to meteorological systems that are influencing lower sections of the country, particularly Balochistan’s coastal districts, from the Arabian Sea and upper Sindh. On the bright side, showers and cooler weather are on the way, thanks to a westerly breeze that could arrive Wednesday. The weather forecast for Karachi indicates that the city will have highs of 34–36°C, lows of 19–22°C, and winds from west to southwest for the next two days.
Karachi has a history of devastating heatwaves, the most recent of which occurred in April 2017 with temperatures reaching 41.5°C. In 1938, on May 9th, the city reached a record-high temperature of 48 degrees Celsius.
