More rain in Karachi
Several parts of Sindh, including Karachi, received medium to high rainfall with strong winds on Wednesday while the fourth monsoon spell entered the province which is already deviating from preceding spells.
“Another meteorological system emerging from the Bay of Bengal and traveling through Central India is likely to reach the clouds pouring rain on Karachi on Thursday. It will be a double whammy for the city,” Karachi’s chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz told the media.
One after the other, the weather system is moving towards the port city, so it cannot be said to be a different kind of monsoon spell. This is arguably the fourth spell to come in installments,” he said.
As usual, the sewer system collapsed, resulting in flooding in many parts of the city, including the DHA, Clifton, Tower, Korangi Industrial Area, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Islamia College, and Power House Chowrangi, Guru Mandir, Bahadurabad and Sharafabad. Municipal authorities were equally incompetent in high-end, low-income communities when it came to rainwater drainage.
Another rain spell is forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) to enter Sindh on Thursday. This spell could pour up to 150mm of rain on the city which could be followed by up to 150mm of rain. In addition, the effects of consecutive weather systems may persist until the morning of August 16.
The chief meteorologist of Karachi said that heavy rains with thunderstorms are likely to last from Thursday to Sunday. Thereafter, a new monsoon spell will enter Sindh from the Bay of Bengal, which could cause heavy rains with thunderstorms in the city between the 17th and 18th of August.
According to the chief meteorologist of Karachi, rainfall intensity is likely to increase even more after the central Indian weather system enters the province. Consequently, the city could witness heavy rains starting on Sunday. “Rainfall can continue until 16 August because of both systems,” he added.
The previous rain spells were coming from the Arabian Sea and the new system entered Sindh from Bengal Bay. These two monsoon systems entered Sindh in quick succession and technically there was not a 24-hour gap between them so they will thus be regarded as the fourth monsoon spell,” said Mr. Sarfaraz.
He added that an additional monsoon system is expected to enter Sindh from the Bay of Bengal after 16 August which can cause heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in various districts of rural Sindh, including Karachi, on 17 and 18 August.
The current monsoon spell may bring rains in parts of Sindh, including Karachi, until August 14. Relentless rains can also occur along the Khuzdar, Lasbela, Hub, and Kirthar ranges, which can create pressure on the Hub dam. Fishermen were advised to be cautious until August 14th due to flooding and expected high tide.
Wednesday’s downpours broke the heat wave in the city as the weather turned pleasant. The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.5, whereas the humidity was 92%.