Karachi records hottest September day in a decade

Karachi recorded a maximum temperature of 41°C on Monday, the highest September reading the city has seen in a decade, according to ProPakistani, which cited the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Aaj English TV put the figure at 40.7°C and described it as a nine-year record for September. The two reports disagreed slightly on the exact maximum, but both said it was among the hottest September days in years as hot and humid weather continued across Sindh.

The heat was not confined to Karachi. Nine cities in Sindh recorded temperatures of 40°C or above, with Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad and Khairpur reaching 42°C, the highest in the province. PMD historical data cited by ProPakistani shows Karachi's all-time highest September temperature was 43°C in 1951, and the city reached 42.7°C on September 20, 2015.

Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder Laghari said the ongoing heat and humidity were caused by a persistent low-pressure area that had blocked the sea breeze. He added that temperatures are expected to fall from Tuesday as the low-pressure system has nearly dissipated. The weather system brought rainfall to some eastern parts of Sindh, but most areas, including Karachi, did not receive monsoon showers, and the PMD has already forecast a largely dry monsoon. Laghari also said El Niño conditions are contributing to regional atmospheric warming. El Niño is a natural climate pattern associated with warmer surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

For Tuesday, Karachi's temperature is expected to remain between 36°C and 38°C, according to the PMD. Relative humidity is forecast to stay between 70% and 80% in the morning before dropping to between 45% and 55% in the evening.