KARACHI: Temperature in most parts of Sindh remained very hot and dry on Monday, with at least nine districts crossing the 40-degree centigrade mark.

According to the Met department website, the maximum temperature was recorded in Sukkur as 44 degrees centigrade. Dadu sizzled at 41 degrees centigrade, Hyderabad 42 degrees centigrade and Jacobabad 40 degrees centigrade.

The maximum temperature in Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad was 43 degrees centigrade while Karachi’s maximum temperature was 38 degrees centigrade.

“Hot weather conditions in this part of the year are not unusual. And, though the department hasn’t released any heatwave alert, people should remain mentally prepared for hotter weather as we are moving towards the peak of summer season,” said city Met chief Abdul Rashid.

According to him, the average of three-decade data showed that the maximum temperature had remained between 33 and 34 degrees centigrade in March in Karachi. “But, then, it’s the average temperature spread over three decades. Last year in March the maximum temperature recorded in Karachi was 38 degrees centigrade,” he said.

The weather was likely to lose its intensity in the coming days, but that would be for a brief period.

Citing a World Meteorological Organisation report, he said 2017 would be as hot as the previous two years.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2017