Karachi weather update: PMD forecasts intensified cold wave from Jan 4
1. Met Office says city might experience cold winds courtesy of westerly winds
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Thursday that the cold weather in Karachi is expected to intensify starting January 4 (Saturday).
While there may be a slight dip in the cold weather on Thursday and Friday, westerly winds entering the country could bring rain to Balochistan, followed by cold winds reaching Karachi, according to the Met Office.
The PMD has forecasted cold and dry conditions in the city, with the minimum temperature recorded at 13.5 degrees Celsius, humidity at 58%, and winds blowing from the north at a speed of six kilometers per hour.
This follows a trend from last month, when temperatures in Karachi dropped into the single digits on several occasions, reaching 9.1°C and 9.5°C.
In addition to the cold, the city is experiencing poor air quality. On December 31, 2024 (Tuesday), Karachi recorded the highest pollution levels of the year, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 237, which is categorized as "very unhealthy" by Swiss air quality monitor IQAir.
The concentration of toxic PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter that can enter the bloodstream when inhaled — was measured at 162 µg/m³, 32.4 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
