Karachi may experience light to heavy showers from Tuesday to Thursday, according to weatherman Owais Haider who spoke to Geo News on Sunday.
In a weekly forecast for the port city, the weather analyst mentioned that rain is likely to hit suburban areas of the megalopolis on Monday. He warned that the threat of urban flooding loomed as the upcoming rain spell could be the most powerful one this monsoon season. Meanwhile, Haider added, there were chances of rain in different parts of Karachi on Friday as well.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) stated that Karachi’s weather was expected to remain hot and humid in the next 24 hours. According to the Met Office, the city's current temperature is 30°C, with the maximum temperature likely to reach 36°C. It noted that the humidity in the air was at 70%, while sea breezes had been restored. "Sea winds are blowing at a speed of 27 kilometers per hour," reported the weather forecasting department.
Rain Emergency in Karachi
Amid predictions of a heavy downpour in southern parts of the country, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab imposed a rain emergency in Karachi on Saturday. The PMD, in its latest update, mentioned that a new rain system located over West Bengal is likely to move westwards during the next couple of days, bringing strong monsoon currents to Pakistan's southern parts on the night of August 25.
The PMD added that heavy rains are expected from August 26 to 29 under this system, prompting the concerned authorities to take emergency measures. In response, Mayor Wahab announced that a rain emergency has been imposed to manage the post-rain situation in the metropolis. He also instructed the municipal services of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to be on high alert, suspending leaves of all concerned staffers to cope with the expected rains.
As per the Met Office, the areas in Sindh likely to receive showers include Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Shaheed Benazirabad, Jamshoro, Tando Allayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tharparkar, Nagarparkar, Mithi, Mirpur Khas, Umarkot, Matiari, Sanghar, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Khairpur, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Naushero Feroze.
NDMA Flood Warning
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority's (NDMA) National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) issued a warning to relevant departments to stay alert in anticipation of torrential rains in Sindh and Punjab from August 26 to 29. The authority warned that, besides flash flooding in local nullahs/streams and hill torrents in Punjab, coastal flooding may also occur along Makran's coast and in low-lying areas of Dadu, Hyderabad, Badin, and Shahdadpur districts of Sindh.
The NDMA, in its statement, urged all relevant authorities and the public to take necessary precautions to mitigate the potential impacts of flooding and heavy rains. It also instructed departments to alert Emergency Response Teams and mobilize resources to ensure a swift response to any arising situations. The public has also been advised to remain vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities.
