Climate of Karachi
Karachi has an arid climate, albeit a moderate version of this climate. Karachi is located on the coast and as a result has a relatively mild climate. Karachi has two main seasons; Summer & Winter, while spring and autumn are very short. Summer season persists for longest period during the year.Karachi also receives the monsoon rains from July to September. The city enjoys a tropical climate encompassing warm winters and hot summers. The humidity levels usually remain high from March to November, while very low in Winter as the wind direction in winter is North Easterly.
| Climate data for Karachi | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.8 (91.0) |
36.5 (97.7) |
42.2 (108.0) |
44.0 (111.2) |
46.0 (114.8) |
47.0 (116.6) |
41.1 (106.0) |
41.7 (107.1) |
42.2 (108.0) |
42.6 (108.7) |
38.5 (101.3) |
34.5 (94.1) |
47.0 (116.6) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
32.2 (90.0) |
34.7 (94.5) |
35.5 (95.9) |
35.4 (95.7) |
33.3 (91.9) |
32.1 (89.8) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.5 (95.9) |
32.5 (90.5) |
28.2 (82.8) |
32.4 (90.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.5 (68.9) |
21.2 (70.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
28.8 (83.8) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.8 (89.2) |
30.4 (86.7) |
29.2 (84.6) |
28.7 (83.7) |
27.8 (82.0) |
24.6 (76.3) |
20.4 (68.7) |
26.6 (80.0) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) |
14.0 (57.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.6 (79.9) |
28.3 (82.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.6 (78.1) |
21.9 (71.4) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
21.2 (70.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
12.2 (54.0) |
17.7 (63.9) |
22.0 (71.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.0 (64.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
6.0 (42.8) |
1.3 (34.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 8.4 (0.33) |
7.4 (0.29) |
5.3 (0.21) |
3.0 (0.12) |
0.1 (0.00) |
10.8 (0.43) |
60.0 (2.36) |
60.9 (2.40) |
11.0 (0.43) |
2.6 (0.10) |
0.4 (0.02) |
4.8 (0.19) |
174.7 (6.88) |
| Average precipitation days | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 16.5 |
| Source: PMD (1991–2020) [1] | |||||||||||||
Monsoon precipitation in Karachi
The average annual rainfall for Karachi is 174.6 millimetres (6.87 in) (1981–2010); the highest annual rainfall of 713 millimetres (28.1 in) was recorded in 1967.[2] Annual monsoon rains for Karachi amount to 146.5 millimetres (5.77 in). The city experienced above-normal monsoon rainfalls in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, while in 2004 and 2005 the city received below-normal rainfall. In 2009 the country received 30% below normal rainfall with the exception of Sindh, including Karachi, which received above normal monsoon rains. Following is the annual monsoon rainfall for the last few years based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.[17]
| Monsoon precipitation in Karachi Monsoon begins from June till September | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation | ||||
| Year | (mm) | (in) | References | |
| 2000 | 46.9 mm | 0 inches | [18] | |
| 2001 | 100.4 mm | 2.41 inches | [18][19] | |
| 2002 | 55.8 mm | 4.84 inches | [20][21] | |
| 2003 | 324.9 mm | 13.98 inches | [22] | |
| 2004 | 65.9 mm | 1.37 inches | [23] | |
| 2005 | 97.2 mm | 3.17 inches | [13][24] | |
| 2006 | 301.1 mm | 11.85 inches | [24] | |
| 2007 | 465.6 mm | 18.33 inches | [17][24] | |
| 2008 | 91.5 mm | 3.60 inches | [24] | |
| 2009 | 279.9 mm | 11.02 inches | [25][26][27][28][29][30] | |
| 2010 | 372.9 mm | 14.68 inches | [5][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] | |
| 2011 | 295 mm | 11.61 inches | [48][49][50] | |
| 2012 | 159.1 mm | 6.26 inches | [51][52] | |
| 2013 | 172.4 mm | 6.79 inches | As of August 8, 2013[53] | |
Tropical Cyclones and Tropical Storms in Karachi
Though cyclones are rare in the Arabian sea which is a part of North Indian Ocean, cyclones that form in the Arabian sea may move in five possible tracks; towards Indian Gujrat, towards Badin/Tharparkar coast, towards Karachi/Thatta coast, towards Gawader coast or towards Oman Coast.[54] Cyclones in the Arabian sea form mostly from mid-of-May till mid-of-July and then in the month of October. Monsoon season plays a vital role for the formation of cyclone in this basin. Tropical storms that hit Pakistan are mostly remnants by the time reach Pakistan or make landfall in south eastern Sindh which is not very much populated they rarely move towards the Balochistan coast.
Due to "Climate Change", now the frequency of Tropical Cyclones formation in the Arabian Sea has been increased and hence threats of landfall towards Karachi has also been increased. [55]
List of tropical cyclones in Pakistan
Each year before the onset of monsoon that is during 15 May to 15 July and also after its withdrawal that is during 15 September to 15 November, there is always a distinct possibility of the cyclonic storm to develop in the north Arabian Sea.[56] There is a 50 per cent chance of cyclones to turn towards the Indian state of Gujarat, 20 per cent chance of moving towards the Oman/Gulf and thirty per cent chance of moving towards the Pakistani coast.[57]
There is one tropical cyclone warning centre (TCWC) operational in Pakistan by the "Pakistan Meteorological Department", which is in Karachi in Sindh province.[58] During the last 100 years a number of cyclonic storms have struck Pakistan's coastal areas. The years involved were 1895, 1902, 1907, 1944, 1948, 1964, 1985, 1999, 2007 and 2010.
| Wettest tropical cyclones/depressions in Pakistan Highest known recorded totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation / Rainfall | Name of Tropical Cyclone / Storm | Measurement Station | ||
| Rank | (mm) | (in) | ||
| 1 | 370 mm | 14.57 inches | Phet (2010) | Gwadar[59] |
| 2 | 285 mm | 11.22 inches | Cyclone (1999) | Keti Bandar[60] |
| 3 | 245 mm | 9.64 inches | BOB (2009) | Karachi[61][62][63] |
| 4 | 191 mm | 7.51 inches | BOB 06 (2007) | Karachi[64][65][66] |
| 5 | 145 mm | 5.71 inches | Onil (2004) | Thatta[67] |
| 6 | 110 mm | 3.94 inches | Yemyin (2007) | Karachi |
| 7 | 43 mm | 1.69 inches | BOB 04 (2007) | Karachi[68][69] |
| 8 | 18 mm | 0.70 inches | BOB 03 (2009) | Karachi[70] |
See also
- 2009 Karachi floods
- Climate of Pakistan
- Climate of Sindh
- Demographics of Karachi
- History of Karachi
- List of extreme weather records in Pakistan
- List of most populous metropolitan areas in Pakistan
- Pakistan Meteorological Department
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