Karachi braces for cloudy, humid weather

Karachi is expected to witness cloudy and humid weather over the next 24 hours, with light drizzle likely in some areas during the morning and evening

Karachi is expected to witness cloudy and humid weather over the next 24 hours, with light drizzle likely in some areas during the morning and evening, according to the latest forecast issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday.

The Met Office said daytime temperatures in the port city are expected to remain between 33°C and 35°C, while the minimum temperature recorded early Monday was 28°C. Humidity levels remained high at 78 percent, making weather conditions feel warmer than the actual temperature.

Sea breezes continued to blow across the city at a speed of around 15 kilometres per hour, providing some relief from the humid conditions. Weather officials said intermittent drizzle could occur in isolated parts of Karachi, particularly during the early morning and after sunset, although no widespread rainfall is expected.

Meanwhile, the PMD has projected that August 2026 is likely to be drier than usual across much of Pakistan, with rainfall expected to remain below the long-term average in most regions.

The monthly climate outlook, released on July 31, was prepared using forecasts generated by 10 internationally recognised seasonal climate prediction models, providing a comprehensive assessment of expected weather trends during the month.

According to the department, large-scale climate patterns are expected to play a significant role in shaping weather conditions across the country. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in a positive phase and is likely to continue through August, while the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has also shifted into a positive phase. Meteorologists say the combination of these climate systems is expected to suppress rainfall in many parts of Pakistan.

As a result, below-average rainfall is forecast for most regions of the country. The greatest rainfall deficits are expected over northeastern and central Punjab, extending into adjoining parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as southeastern Sindh.

In contrast, parts of Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to receive rainfall closer to normal levels during the month, making it one of the few regions where precipitation is not forecast to decline significantly.

The PMD has also warned that temperatures across Pakistan are likely to remain above seasonal averages throughout August. The most pronounced rise in temperatures is expected over eastern Gilgit-Baltistan, central and northeastern Punjab, adjoining areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and northern Balochistan.