Cold spell likely to intensify in Karachi

Karachi experienced its first rain of the winter season early Saturday morning, with light showers and drizzle reported in several parts of the city.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast partly cloudy weather in the evening, while weather expert Owais Hyder has suggested there may be more light drizzle in some areas of Karachi.

According to the Met Office, the wet spell is expected to intensify the already prevailing cold weather from today.

Drizzle was reported in multiple locations, including Sharea Faisal, Karsaz, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Federal B Area, MA Jinnah Road, Numaish Chowrangi, Guru Mandir, Dalmia, Shanti Nagar, Scheme 33, University Road, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Baldia Town, Orangi Town, and North Nazimabad. Light rain was also witnessed in Hub Chowki and Surjani.

The rainfall comes after the PMD’s earlier forecast predicting a colder spell starting January 4 due to the influence of westerly winds.

Despite the rain, the city’s air quality remained concerning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 257, which falls in the “very unhealthy” category according to Swiss air quality monitor IQAir.

Karachi was ranked as the second-most polluted city on Saturday, with PM2.5 levels measured at 182 µg/m³, which is 36.4 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Meanwhile, Quetta and its surrounding areas in Balochistan, including Ziarat, Mastung, Lakpass, and Kan Mehtarzai, experienced the first snowfall of the season.

The snowfall followed brief rain showers and is expected to continue until January 5. Additional snowfall is also anticipated in areas such as Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Zhob, and Barkhan.

The weather department has predicted that the rain and snowfall will persist until Sunday, January 5.

In addition to Balochistan, showers were reported in Kohlu and nearby areas, while intermittent snowfall was recorded in Gilgit’s Diamir, Babusar Top, and Nanga Parbat.

The cold weather is expected to continue across these regions in the coming days.