Karachi under heat alert as Sindh braces for extreme temperatures

KARACHI: Sindh is bracing for a heatwave over the coming days, with temperatures expected to soar as high as 49 degrees Celsius in inland districts, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Saturday.

The Met Office’s early warning centre issued a heat alert for Karachi and surrounding regions, forecasting hot and humid conditions in the port city over the next three days.

In Karachi, it said, maximum temperatures are expected to remain between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels likely reaching 55 to 65 per cent during daytime hours, the department said.

Met officials said that sea breezes would continue to provide partial relief, though intermittent westerly winds could also affect weather conditions.

In its advisory, the PMD warned that most parts of Sindh would remain hot to very hot and dry through May 11, with a severe heatwave persisting across central and upper districts of the province.

It said that districts including Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Jacobabad, Larkana and Sukkur are expected to experience extreme daytime heat, with temperatures ranging between 47 and 49 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office has advised residents, particularly children, women and the elderly, to take precautionary measures, avoid direct exposure to sunlight during peak hours, and increase water intake to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Meteorologists said that the ongoing heatwave conditions were part of a broader seasonal pattern affecting southern Pakistan as summer temperatures intensify across the region.