Karachi experienced its hottest September day in nearly a decade on Monday, with the mercury reaching 40.7°C at the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) Pehlwan Goth weather station. The reading surpassed the previous September high of 40.5°C recorded in 2017, according to PMD officials.
The extreme heat came with high humidity, making conditions feel several degrees hotter than the recorded temperature. Other parts of the city also reported temperatures above 40°C, including 41.2°C at Jinnah Terminal and 41°C in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Why Karachi Is Experiencing Intense Heat
PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir Zaigham said temperatures had been rising steadily over the previous several days after relatively moderate conditions at the beginning of September.
According to the Met Office, a circulation over the Arabian Sea affected local wind patterns, while weaker southwesterly sea breezes contributed to the unusually hot conditions. Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder Laghari also linked the continuing heat to a low-pressure area that had disrupted the sea breeze.
Karachi’s September temperature record remains considerably higher. PMD data shows the city’s all-time September record is 43°C, recorded on September 30, 1951. The temperature also reached 42.7°C on September 20, 2015.
Heat Expected to Ease From Wednesday
The PMD forecast some relief after the current spell. Karachi’s maximum temperature was expected to remain around 38°C on Tuesday, with the intensity of the heat likely to decrease from Wednesday as temperatures could fall to about 35°C.
Hot and humid conditions were still expected to continue in the short term, with humidity potentially reaching around 55 percent. This could keep the perceived temperature noticeably higher than the actual reading.
The heat has also affected other parts of Sindh. Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur and Hyderabad recorded maximum temperatures of 42°C, while Chhor reached 41.5°C.
For Karachi residents, the latest readings highlight another period of unusually intense September heat, although Monday’s temperature remained below the city’s historic September record of 43°C.
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