KARACHI: After a hot day when the mercury soared to 39 degrees centigrade, parts of Karachi received light to moderate rain on Wednesday evening with chances of heavy rainfall in the next 24 to 48 hours, which may cause urban flooding in the metropolis.

The city remained under thick and heavy clouds throughout the day. Hot weather with gusty winds prevailed in the city for most part of the day after early morning drizzle in a few areas. However, after sunset, light to moderate rain was reported in different parts of the city.

An official of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that by 9pm, Gulshan-i-Hadeed received 7mm of rain, North Nazimabad 4.5mm, Airport 3mm and the amount of rainfall recorded at PAF Base Masroor observatory was 2mm.

Before the rain, hot and gusty north-westerly winds reached a speed up to 15 knots. The speed might increase to 25 knots with more rains, the weatherman added.

The maximum temperature surged to 39 degrees centigrade in the day with humidity, or the amount of moisture in the air, at 40 per cent. The minimum temperature on Wednesday was 28 degrees centigrade.

The Met Office said that “rainy and cloudy” weather was likely to prevail in the city during the next 24 hours.

When asked about chances of rain, a senior PMD official said that the weather warning his department had issued earlier was for three days. There were still strong chances of “heavy rainfall” in the city in the next two days, he added.

“A new monsoon system has entered Sindh from India that will generate a wet spell with thunderstorm and heavy rainfall,” said Met department Director Abdul Rasheed. “The rainy spell in southern parts of Sindh including Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Karachi divisions will persist till Friday and it will start weakening from Friday night. However, the cloudy weather is likely to stay on Eid day [Saturday].”

On Tuesday, a weather warning issued by the Met department said that a strong monsoon system from India was heading towards Sindh and was likely to enter south-east Sindh on late Tuesday. Under its influence widespread rains/thundershowers with a number of moderate to heavy and a few very heavy falls with strong gusty winds might occur in lower divisions of the province, including Karachi, and at scattered places in upper divisions of Sindh from Wednesday to Friday.

“Rain/thunderstorm with gusty winds is expected at scattered places in Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Karachi divisions,” said the last advisory of the Met Office released in the evening prompting the authorities concerned to take measures to meet the challenge approaching in case of projected urban flooding.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in an advisory to all departments concerned asked for an update or SMS alert in view of expected flash flooding due to rains and thunderstorm.

An official at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that flash floods were likely to hit areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

“For that case, the NDMA has asked the PDMAs of Sindh and Balochistan to coordinate with cellular operators for early dissemination of SMS alerts in the areas,” said the official.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2017