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Climate of Karachi

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File:Cliamte.jpg
Iconic View Of Karachi

Karachi features an arid climate, albeit a more moderate version of this climate. Karachi is located on the coast and as a result has a relatively mild climate. The level of precipitation is low for most of the year. However, due to the city's proximity to the sea, humidity levels usually remain high throughout the year. The city enjoys mild winters and warm summers. Karachi also receives the tail end of the monsoon rains. Since summer temperatures (the end of April through the end of August) are approximately 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, the winter months (November through March) are the best time to visit Karachi. The month of July generally observes annual monsoon rainfall. December, which is the most popular month for social events such as weddings, fundraisers and charity balls, is frequently the time when most visitors, tourists and expatriates come to Karachi.


Climate data for Karachi, Pakistan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: [1] & [2]

Monthly break up of climate

The following is the monthly breakup of the weather in Karachi.

January

In the month of January, the cold conditions continue in the city and sometimes get very cold due to Western Disturbance. The highest temperature recorded was 32.5 °C in 1996. Humidity remains low in January. Beside this many functions are held in this month like weddings, ceremonies etc. Rains in this month is light rarely it gets heavy. But the sky remains overcast. The highest rainfall of this month is of 84.5mm which occurred in 1995. The lowest temperature recorded was in the year 1934, which was of 0.0 °C.

February

From first till second week or so, the cold conditions continue but after that the weather starts to heat a little bit. Like in January, the first week of February is cold and the sky remains overcast with drizzle or light rain. One good rainy day is also expected in the start of february as a result of western disturbance. Humidity remains between 40-60%. The lowest temperature was 3°C in 1950 and highest is 34.1°C in 1996. The highest rainfall is of 264.7mm that occurred in 2003.

March

Till the beginning of March the weather had been turned hot. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 7°C in 1979 and the highest was 41.5 in 2004. Being a hot month there is no rain, yet Drizzle could occur rarely. March is the annual spring season in Karachi after winter, Spring brings beautiful flowers in the city that light up the mood of citizens, Many flowers shows are also held in the city in March. A weather system dumped 130.0mm rain in 1967, which is March's highest rainfall for the city. Again the highest temperature was recorded in 2010, which is of 41.5°C.

April

The heatwave of March continues in April as well. Temperature starts to increase and weather remains dry and hot. The Humidity remains between 65-75%. Highest temperature ever recorded was of 44°C in 1947 and lowest temperature was 12.2°C in 1967. Rain is uncommon in this month being dry and hot. The highest rainfall occurred in 1935, which was of 53.4mm.

May

May is the hottest month of Karachi with temperatures sometimes above 40°C. The hottest May was in 1938, when temperatures touched 48°C. The humidity is quite high in this month as well between 70-80%. Traffic remains low during rush hours due to intense heat and humidity. People are offered freash and cold drinks on the streets like Sharbat, Kheer and soft drinks. While the Sky remains cloudless. Highest rain in this month was only 33mm that occurred in 1933, while the average rainfall for this month is 3mm. In 1999, 2001 and 2010 three major cyclones were formed that came close to Karachi, with 1999 Cyclone (the fourth strongest cyclone of Arabian Sea) hitting close to karachi, While the 2001 India cyclone (the third strongest cyclone of Arabian sea) making landfall near Indian border and the 2010 cyclone, Cyclone Phet (second strongest cyclone) making landfall also close to karachi in June.

June

Drizzle is common in June as Pre-Monsoon rain.

Temperatures of May continue in June as well with slight decrease. The highest temperature of june was 47.8°C that occurred in 1979. Humidity remains high in his month. In the middle of June Pre-Monsoon rains can start that breaks the heat spell. Storms like Tropical cyclones or Tropical Depression form close to the sea of Karachi in this month, like in 2007 Cyclone Yemyin created Havoc in the city with strong windstorms of 69 mph and rainstorms killing 200 people, Although the storm passed near Karachi and hit Balochistan Province its remnants caused heavy rains in the coming weeks in Karachi. The cyclone also produced heaviest rainfall for june in 2007 which broke all previous record for June, which was about 110.5mm while the average rainfall is less than 20mm. On June 6th 2010, Cyclone Phet came close to the coast of Karachi, at about 50km away from the city after a week long journey. Phet produced very Heavy rainfall in the city which broke the previous record of june made in 2007, about 150mm rain with 35mph winds occurred due to Phet. Humidity in this month remains between 75-85%. More over in the evening winds from south west direction blow from the Sea causing drizzle with cloudy weather.

July

File:July floods karachi (1).jpg
Flooded road in the city

In the month of July, Monsoon reaches its peak and produces heavy to very heavy rainfall, like in june sky remains overcast with only 3 to 4 hours of sunlight a day, With occasional drizzle at night or early morning. Two or Three rainstorms is common in this month that continue for three days to half week. The highest temperature of 42.2°C was recorded in 1958. The highest rainfall for july is 429.9mm that occurred in 1967. In 2003, a monsoon low pressure created flood like situation in Sindh Province, with continuous spells of rain in Karachi at least 201mm rain was recorded. Then after seven years later, in 2009 a monsoon low produced unexpected very heavy rain of 235mm in just three hours with strong winds that uprooted trees, roofs of poorly made-houses and killed 20 people while injuring 150. This rain is also considered karachi's heaviest rain yet that occurred in just three hours. Humidity in July remains high between 80-90% causing discomfort to the people specially during rush hour. But in the evening just like Mid-June, cool winds blow from the sea in South West direction with light drizzle making the weather pleasant.In Evening times, Cirrus clouds can be seen daily coming from eastern regions indicating Monsoon presence.

August

File:July (1)karachi.jpg
Heavy rains lashing the port city

The weather of August is identical to that of july. one or two weather system lashes the city in this month that causes significant floodings but less as compared to July. Then the monsoon starts to get weak in the last week of August but still has the potential to cause heavy rains in the city like in 2009 when 147.5mm rain was recorded on 31 August. Although in August rainfall intensity decreases but due to climatic changes heavy rains have started to lash the city in recent years like in 2007 a very strong tropical depression produced 167.9mm rain that continued for three days with intense thunderstorms and then just five days later again another monsoon low produced 81mm rain on 22th Thurday. Also in 2006 after two years of drought period that is 2004 and 2005, Widespread rainfall of 60mm occurred in the city on friday the 16th that broke the drought period. But historical events has shown that monsoon withdraws from Karachi during last days of August. The highest rainfall for August is 265.7mm that occurred in 1979 and the highest temperature in 41.5°C in 1965.

September

First Week of September can have some good rains because after the first week of September monsoon completely withdraws from the city. The sky remains sunny and dry. With slight decrease in humdity that is between 70-80% but increase in temperatures. Rain in this month is rare as there are no clouds in this month, But in case if there is no rains in July and August then moderate rainfall is expected but that is very rare in some cases very uncommon. The highest rainfall for September is 350.5mm that occurred in 1959. The highest temperature was 42°C thar occurred in 1951.

October

Beautiful Sunset in Karachi

October is the driest month of the city, with temperaures touching 43.9°C in 1951. Morning is hazy and the winds are calm, the sky remains clear with hot conditions. There is no rain in this month.

November

November has hot days while cool nights. Weather remains hot and dry, the mid-November is just like October due to Autumn. While last weeks of November see gradual decrease in temperaure and thus winter begins, but it is not that cold and people enjoy this weather as first weeks of November is hot and the last week of November is cold making it a pleasant November. Showers occur in this month with fast winds due to Western Disturbance and cause temperatures to rise. The highest rainfall for November is 83.1 mm in the year 1959. While the highest and lowest temperaures is 38.5 °C (1994) and 6 °C (1938) respectively.

December

The month of December is the annual winter month, but winter becomes more strong in January. In December weather remains calm and many functions are held in this month. Sky remains cloudy for some time of the month causing temperatures to decrease. On or two Showers is expected in this month due to western disturbance coming from mediterranean sea. The highest rainfall occurred in 2006 when a strong westerly wave dumped 63.9 mm rain. The lowest temperature for December is 1.5 °C that occurred in 1986.

List of Cyclones That Effected Karachi and Sindh Coast

Cyclones that form in the Arabian Sea not always hit the Karachi or the sindh coast. During 1999, 2007 and 2010, only in these year cyclones directly affected the sindh coast including Karachi. While other cyclones that are listed below caused rains as a remnants.

  • In 1965, a powerful cyclone hit the city with 10,000 casualities.
  • In 1998, remnants of category 3 1998 Gujarat cyclone (5th strongest cyclone of Arabian sea) killed 12 people near and in the city
  • In 1999, again a category 3 1999 Pakistan cyclone (4th strongest cyclone of Arabian Sea) hit near the city at the same place as 1998 Gujarati Cyclone, this Cyclone killed 700 people in Sindh including Karachi, this cyclone is the strongest cyclone of Pakistan.
  • In 2001, A powerful category 3 Cyclone 2001 India cyclone (3rd strongest cyclone of Arabian Sea) hit Indian border of Gujarat,But it caused rain along the Sindh coast and no damage was reported.
  • In 2004, a cyclonic storm Cyclone Onil hit Indian border of Gujarat but its remnants caused heavy rain that killed 9 people in Karachi.
  • In 2007, a cyclonic storm Cyclone Yemyin passed near the city and hit Balochistan Province, it killed 380 people in Balochistan and 200 in Karachi city.
  • In 2010, Cyclone Phet (2nd strongest cyclone of Arabian Sea) once a powerful category 4 cyclone, it made lanfall near the city as a tropical depression, with a total of 14 casualities in and near the city.

Monsoon Rainfall For Karachi

Note that the annual rainfall for Karachi is 200mm, while annual Monsoon rains for Karachi amount to 146.5mm. But due to Global Warming there has been dramatic change in the climate. The following is the annual monsoon rainfall for last few monsoons seasons (July-August-September).

  • In 2003, a total of 230.5mm rainfall was recorded.
  • In 2004, a total of 39.7mm rainfall was recorded.
  • In 2005, a total of 56.5mm rainfall was recorded.
  • In 2006, a total of 236.7mm rainfall was recorded
  • In 2007, a total of 435.4mm rainfall was recorded.
  • In 2008, a total of 95.5mm rainfall was recorded.
  • In 2009, a total of 426.1mm rainfall was recorded.
  • In 2010, a total of 563.6mm rainfall was recorded as of 8th August night (2010 Monsoon still active)

Pakistan Meteorological Departments in Karachi

See also

References

  1. ^ met.gov.pk
  2. ^ bbc.co.uk/weather

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