Climate of Karachi
It is located on the coast bordering the Arabian Sea, and as a result, has a relatively mild climate.
The city experiences a tropical climate encompassing warm and dry winters and very hot, humid and rainy summers.
On 27 December 2021, the metropolis broke a 13-year record and experienced the coldest day with the maximum temperature dropping to 19 °C (66 °F).
Western Disturbances from the Persian Gulf and Iran affect the city during this time, bringing with them light rainfall.
The lowest temperature was 0.0 °C The cold waves can affect the metropolis until the middle of the month, after which a warming trend begins in the city.
[5] Western depressions can continue to affect the city during this month, often causing overcast skies and light to moderate rainfall.
Weather turns quite warm with the start of March, with increasing humidity and intensity of sunshine.
[5][4] March is considered spring time in the city, when the skies are usually clear blue and W/SW breeze dominates, making the outdoors much more pleasant.
On 11 March 2007, a strong western depression gave up to 35 mm rainfall in the city, during which intermittent moderate to heavy rain continued in the metropolis from morning until midnight.
On 19 March 2007, once again an isolated heavy downpour lashed the city, in which the northern parts (North Karachi) received 53 mm rainfall in less than an hour, while other areas received lesser precipitation.on 13 March 2015, an overnight dose of heavy rain lashed mainly the southern and SE areas of the city.
However, Gulshan-e-Hadeed observatory (located ESE of the metropolis in the outskirts), received 40 mm downpour on the same night.Most recently on 1 march 2024 the city received heavy rainfall all day.The all-time high for the month was a mighty 130 millimetres (5.1 in), recorded in 1967, which is March's highest rainfall for the city.
On 22 April 2013, a strong thunderstorm ripped across the metropolis at mid-day, giving very heavy rainfall specially in central, NW and southern parts of the city.
The 1999 cyclone (the fourth strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea) hit close to Karachi, along the coast of Thatta and Keti Bandar giving massive rainfall and causing widespread damage in these areas while the city of Karachi only received very strong NE winds, with light showers (traces).
[5] On 6 June 2010, Cyclone Phet came close to the coast of Karachi as a tropical depression, at about 50 km away from the city after a week-long journey.
[10] Due to humidity levels ranging between 40 and 50%, coupled with high temperature, the heat indices recorded in the city were above 50 °C during these days.
The abnormal heat and humidity, coupled with government specifically K-Electric's apathy towards the masses, claimed the lives of 1234 people in Karachi in one week.
[11] In the month of July, the city is likely to start receiving rainfall from monsoon systems, that strike the metropolis from the Indian states of Rajasthan or Gujarat.
Drizzle increases in intensity in this month, mostly occurring during night and early morning hours.
At times, showers of considerable intensity can also lash the metropolis from these weak clouds, causing up to a few millimetres of rain.
[13] Between 09 and 11 August 2007, a very strong tropical depression produced 191 millimetres (7.5 in)[14] Intermittent moderate to heavy rain lashed the mega-city during these 48 hours.
[5] The city's highest rainfall in 24 hours occurred on 27 August 2020, when 345 mm rain was officially recorded at PAF Base Faisal.
[16] Significantly, this total was achieved in just 12 hours, flooding the entire Southern district of the city.
After the first three weeks, the monsoon completely withdraws from the city, and the sky remains sunny and dry.
[5] Morning is hazy and the winds are calm, the sky remains clear with hot conditions.
During the year of 2004, the city received no significant precipitation, with the exception of a two-day spell of moderate rain which occurred between 2 and 3 October 2004, due to Cyclone Onil.
Rainfall is common in the city during the month of December due to the western disturbance coming from the Mediterranean Sea.
Following is the annual monsoon rainfall for the last few years based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
[55] Each year before the onset of monsoon (15 May to 15 July) and also after its withdrawal (15 September to 15 November), there is always a distinct possibility of the cyclonic storm to develop in the north Arabian Sea.
