KARACHI, April 26: The ongoing heatwave scorched the city on Saturday when the temperature rose to 42°C, making it the hottest day of the season.

The heatwave first made its presence felt on April 3 when mercury rose to 40.5°C and hot and dry winds blew across the city.

Pakistan Meteorological Department officials told Dawn that even last year, April had the hottest day of the season. They said that on April 30, 2002, the temperature had risen to 44°C.

They said that while Saturday’s temperature was very high, it was still way below the maximum temperature that the city had borne. “On April 16, 1947, mercury rose to 44 degrees Centigrade, making it the hottest day in April. But the hottest day that Karachi has faced was when on May 9, 1938, the temperature rose to 48 degrees Centigrade,” they recalled.

They explained that north-westerly winds coming from hot hilly areas in Balochistan had turned the weather hot and dry.

According to the Pakistan Meterological Department, the city’s weather would remain very hot and dry on Sunday.