KARACHI: Karachiites could face a spell of “very hot” weather this weekend when the temperature could rise to 40 degrees Celsius, but the Meteorological department made clear on Wednesday that the upcoming trend should not be called a “heatwave.”

A senior official of the department said that the city was already going through hot weather as the temperature was maintaining an upward trend. However, he said by the weekend the situation could further intensify when the mercury was expected to touch the 40 degrees Celsius mark.

“During April 23 and 25, we may see very hot weather. It should not be called heatwave. But definitely, the temperature would stay higher than usual we see these days. The sea breeze would be there in early hours, but we are seeing its direction northwest,” said Sardar Sarfaraz of the Met office.

Meanwhile, the weatherman’s daily advisory forecast hot and humid weather in the metropolis over the next 24 hours. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to remain from 25 to 27 and 37 to 39 degrees Celsius, respectively, with 70 to 80 per cent humidity in Karachi. Hot and dry weather is likely to prevail over most parts of the province during the next 24 hours, it said.

While predicting rain with winds and thunderstorm in upper and central parts of the country during the next four to five days, it also spotted Sukkur, Larkana and Jacobabad with Quetta, Zhob, Sibi, Kohlu, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Kalat, Ziarat, Harnai and Chaman where the westerly weather system is likely to burst into heavy rains.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021