KARACHI, April 3: Karachiites braved the first heatwave of the season as temperature rose to 40.5 degrees Centigrade on Thursday. As hot and dry winds blew across the city, humidity level dropped to six per cent.

Meteorological Department officials told Dawn that while Thursday’s temperature was very high, it was still way below the record 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 had experienced was May 9, 1938, when mercury shot up to 48 degrees Centigrade,” they recalled.

Commenting on the current wave of scorching heat, they explained that north-westerly winds from the hot hilly areas of Balochistan had turned the weather hot and dry.

“The temperature is expected to range between 40 to 42 degrees Centigrade on Friday. On Wednesday, minimum temperature in the city was recorded at 25 degree Centigrade and maximum at 37 degree Centigrade. Humidity level remained unchanged,” they said.

According to Friday forecast, the city’s weather would remain hot and hazy with occasional gusty winds.

Doctors have recommended an increased consumption of water in such a hot weather. They have warned people against walking around in sun unnecessarily to avoid heatstroke.