Sea Breeze Brings Relief to Karachi After Days of Sweltering Heat. Karachi has been enduring a relentless heatwave, with the night between Sunday and Monday (July 1) marking the warmest July night in over six decades. The minimum temperature was recorded at 32°C with 70% relative humidity, breaking the previous record of 31°C set three to four years ago.
On Monday, the maximum temperature soared to 38.1°C, which is 4.5°C above the average temperature for July, which typically stands at 33.6°C. The relative humidity on this day was recorded at 60%. The heatwave, lasting from June 23 to June 30, has been the most intense since the 2015 heatwave that tragically claimed over 1,200 lives in the city.
For the first time in the last eight days, no heatstroke-related deaths were reported at major hospitals such as JPMC, Civil Hospital, Indus Hospital, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. However, unofficial estimates suggest that over 60 heatstroke-related deaths occurred during the recent heatwave.
High fever (105-106°F) was the most common complaint among patients, along with other symptoms. Experts believe that ongoing viral infections, particularly dengue and chikungunya, may have influenced the pattern of symptoms observed during this period. Co-morbidities have been identified as a significant risk factor in heatwave mortalities, with cases such as an 18-year-old epilepsy patient and a 25-year-old severely anemic woman with five children highlighting the vulnerability of certain individuals.
The Met department anticipates a drop in temperatures with the return of the sea breeze, although the weather is expected to remain hot and humid. No rain is forecast for Karachi until at least July 8.
