Climate of Karachi - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The climate of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

features 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

Climate

Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...

. Karachi has two main seasons; Summer & Winter, while spring and autumn are very short. Summer season persists for longest period during the year. The level of precipitation is low for most of the year. Less precipitation during summer is due to inversion layer. Karachi also receives the monsoon

Monsoon

Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...

rains from July to September. The city enjoys a tropical climate encompassing mild winters and warm summers. The humidity

Humidity

Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...

levels usually remain high from March to November, while very low in Winter as the wind direction in winter is North Easterly. Since summer temperatures (From the end of April till the end of August) are approximately 30 °C (86 °F) to 36 °C (96.8 °F), the winter months (From November till the end of March) are the best time to visit Karachi. Most visitors, tourists and expatriates come to Karachi during the month of December.

Factors

The monsoon

Monsoon

and the Western Disturbance

Western Disturbance

Western Disturbance is the term used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to describe an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by...

are the two main factors which alter the weather over Karachi; otherwise, Continental air prevails for rest of the year. Following are the main factors that alter the weather over Karachi city.

Western Disturbances mostly occur during the winter months and cause drizzle to light showers, temperature also decreases due to it.
Tropical Storms usually form during the summer months from late April till June and then from late September till November.
Southwest Monsoon occurs in summer from the month of July till September. Monsoon rains bring much awaited relief from the scorching summer heat. These monsoon rains are quite heavy by nature and can cause significant flooding.
Continental air prevails during the period when there is no precipitation in the metropolis.

Monthly weather conditions

Like all other cities, Karachi too has four season which is Winter, Summer, Autumn and Spring. The monsoon

Monsoon

season also occurs in Summer. The following is a monthly summary of climatic conditions in the city.

January

In the month of January, the cold conditions continue in the city and sometimes get very cold due to the Western Disturbance

Western Disturbance

. Humidity remains low in January. Rains do occur in this month but are moderate in intensity, the sky remains overcast for some part of the month. The highest rainfall during this month was 89.3 millimetres (3.5 in), which occurred in 1995. On 29 January 2011, an intense but short spell of rain lashed all parts of the city, at least 9 millimetre (0.354330708661417 in) rainfall was recorded. The lowest temperature of 0 °C (32 °F) was recorded on 21 January 1934, while the highest temperature of 32.8 °C (91 °F) was recorded on 16 January 1965.

February

Until the middle of the month, the cold conditions continue; after that the weather becomes mild throughout the month. The sky remains overcast with drizzle

Drizzle

Drizzle is a light rain precipitation consisting of liquid water drops smaller than those of rain, and generally smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter. Drizzle is normally produced by low stratiform clouds and stratocumulus clouds. Precipitation rates due to drizzle are on the order of a millimetre...

or light rain as a result of the Western Disturbance

Western Disturbance

. Humidity remains between 40–60%. The lowest temperature was 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) on 11 February 1950 and the highest was 36.1 °C (97 °F) on 25 February 1996. The highest monthly rainfall of 96 millimetres (3.8 in) was recorded in 1979.

March

Till the beginning of March the weather becomes hot. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 7 °C (44.6 °F) on 9 March 1979 and the highest was 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) on 2 March 2004. The highest temperature was again recorded in 2010. Being a hot month there is no rain, yet drizzle can occur rarely. March is the annual spring season in Karachi after winter; spring brings beautiful flowers in the city. Many flowers shows are also held in the city in March. A weather system dumped 130 millimetres (5.1 in) rain in 1967, which is March's highest rainfall for the city.

April

The heatwave of March continues in April as well. Temperatures increase and the weather remains dry and hot. The humidity remains between 65–75%. The highest temperature during April was 44.4 °C (111.9 °F), which was recorded on 16 April 1947, while the lowest temperature of 12.2 °C (54 °F) was recorded on 29 April 1967. Rain is rare in this month. The highest monthly rainfall of 52.8 millimetres (2.1 in) was recorded in 1935.

May

May is the hottest month for Karachi, with temperatures touching 40 °C (104 °F). The hottest May was on 9 May 1938, when temperatures reached 48.8 °C (119.8 °F); the lowest temperature ever recorded was on 4 May 1989 when 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) was recorded. The humidity is quite high in this month as well between 70–80%. The traffic remains low during the afternoon due to intense heat. Rainfall remains rare during this month and the sky remains cloudless. The highest monthly rain that occurred was in May 1933, when 33 millimetres (1.3 in) rain lashed the city. In 1999, 2001 and 2010, three major cyclones were formed that came close to Karachi. The 1999 cyclone (the fourth strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea

Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...

) hit close to Karachi, while the 2001 India cyclone

2001 India cyclone

The 2001 India cyclone was the second strongest tropical cyclone, in terms of barometric pressure, to form in the Arabian Sea on record, only Cyclone Gonu in 2007 was stronger. The storm originated from a tropical disturbance that formed east of Somalia on May 18. Over the following few days,...

(the third strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea) made landfall near the Indian border. Cyclone Phet

Cyclone Phet

Cyclone Phet was the third named cyclone of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Phet developed from a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea that organized into a tropical cyclone on May 31...

was formed in May 2010, about 1100 km away from Karachi.

June

The temperatures of May continue through June with a slight decrease. The highest temperature of June was 47 °C (116.6 °F) on 18 June 1979, and the lowest was 22.1 °C (71.8 °F), recorded on 3 June 1997. In the middle of June pre-monsoon

Monsoon

rains can start to break the heat spell. Storms like tropical cyclones or tropical depressions form close to the sea of Karachi in this month, as in 2007, when Cyclone Yemyin

Cyclone Yemyin

Cyclone Yemyin was a deadly tropical cyclone that made landfalls on India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department referred to Tropical Cyclone 03B as "Tropical Cyclone Yemyin"...

created havoc in the city with strong windstorms of 69 mph and rainstorms killing 200 people. The storm passed near Karachi and hit Balochistan Province; its remnants caused heavy rains for a week in Karachi. The cyclone produced a heavy rainfall of 110.2 millimetres (4.3 in) for June in 2007, which broke all previous records for June. Cyclone Yemyin was a weak Category 1 hurricane; its strongest winds were observed in Karachi

Karachi

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

, Pakistan on 23 June 2007 at about 69 mph (111 km/h), winds battered the city in the evening with heavy downpours; the same morning, temperatures reached 44.1 °C (111.4 °F). On 6 June 2010, Cyclone Phet

Cyclone Phet

Cyclone Phet was the third named cyclone of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Phet developed from a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea that organized into a tropical cyclone on May 31...

came close to the coast of Karachi as a weak tropical depression, at about 50 km away from the city after a week-long journey. Phet produced a very heavy downpour in the city, which broke the previous record of June 2007. About 152 millimetres (6 in) of rain with 35 mph (56.3 km/h) winds occurred due to Phet. Humidity in June typically remains between 75–85%. In the evening, winds from the southwest blow from the sea, causing light drizzle with cloudy weather.

July

In the month of July, the monsoon reaches its peak and produces heavy to very heavy rainfall. As in June, the sky remains overcast with only 3 to 4 hours of sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...

a day, with occasional drizzle at night or early morning. Two or three rainstorms that continue for few days are common in this month. The highest July temperature of 42.2 °C (108 °F) was recorded on 3 July 1958 and the lowest temperature was 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) on 22 July 1997. The highest monthly rainfall for July was 429.3 mm (16.9 in) in 1967. In 2003, the monsoon's low pressure created a flood situation in Sindh Province, with continuous spells of rain in Karachi; at least 284.5 millimetres (11.2 in) rain was recorded during two days of rain. Six years later on 18 July 2009, there was severe flooding

2009 Karachi floods

The 2009 Karachi floods in Pakistan's financial centre, Karachi, have killed at least 26 people. The death toll is expected to rise, and more than 150 people have been injured in a series of related incidents. The floods are the result of the worst rains in the region in thirty years. Further...

due to a tropical depression, in which heavy rainfall of 245 mm (9.6 in) occurred in just four hours with 40 mph (64.4 km/h) winds making it the second highest rainfall in 24 hours in the city, killing 20 and injuring 150 people. The city's third highest rainfall of 207 mm (8.1 in) in 24 hours was recorded on 1 July 1977. Humidity in July remains high, usually between 80–90%, causing discomfort to the people specially during rush hour. But in the evening, as in June, cool winds blow from the sea in the southwest with light drizzle, making the weather pleasant. In the evenings, cirrus cloud

Cirrus cloud

Cirrus clouds are atmospheric clouds generally characterized by thin, wispy strands, giving them their name from the Latin word cirrus meaning a ringlet or curling lock of hair...

s can be seen daily coming from eastern direction, indicating the monsoon's presence in the city.

August

The weather of August is identical to that of July. One or two weather systems lash the city in this month, causing significant flooding. In 2006, after two years of drought (2004 and 2005), widespread rainfall of 77 millimetres (3 in) occurred in the city to break the drought period. On 11 August 2007, a very strong tropical depression produced 191 millimetres (7.5 in) in just two days. Rain continued for three days with intense thunderstorms; another monsoon low produced 80 millimetres (3.1 in) of rain on 22 August 2007 with 98 mph (157.7 km/h) winds. The monsoon

Monsoon

typically starts to get weak from the last week of August, but still has the potential to cause heavy rains in the city, as on 31 August 2009, when 147 millimetres (5.8 in) of rain was recorded with 106 mph (170.6 km/h) winds. But history has shown that the monsoon withdraws from Karachi during the final days of August. The highest rainfall for August is 271 millimetres (10.7 in), which occurred in 2007; the highest temperature was 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) on 9 August 1964, while the lowest temperature was 21 °C (69.8 °F), recorded on 7 August 1984. The city's highest rainfall in 24 hours also occurred in August, on 7 August 1953, which is about 278.1 millimetres (10.9 in) of rain battered the city.

September

The first two weeks of September can have some good rains. After the first two weeks, the monsoon completely withdraws from the city, and the sky remains sunny and dry. There is a slight decrease in humidity, which hovers between 70–80%, and an increase in temperatures. Rain in this month is inconsistent. During the monsoon of 2005 no rain occurred in the city raising the fears of drought but from 12 September till 13 September heavy rainfall lashed the city about 80 millimetres (3.1 in) rainfall was recorded. From 12 September evening till 13 September afternoon, 2011 a total of 140 millimetres (5.5 in) occurred in the city that caused urban flooding in almost all parts of the city. The highest rainfall for September was 315.7 millimetres (12.4 in) in 1959. The highest temperature was 42.2 °C (108 °F) on 30 September 1951 and the lowest temperature recorded was 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) on 23 September 1994.

October

October is the driest month in the city. The highest temperature of 43.3 °C (109.9 °F) was recorded on 1 October 1959 and lowest was 10 °C (50 °F) recorded on 30 October 1949. Morning is hazy and the winds are calm, the sky remains clear with hot conditions. The highest monthly rainfall for October is 98mm, which occurred in 1959.
During the year of 2004 the city received no significant rains with the exception of a heavy rain which occurred in October due to Cyclone Onil

Cyclone Onil

Severe Cyclonic Storm Onil was the first tropical cyclone to be named in the northern Indian Ocean...

November

November has warm days and cool nights. Mid-November conditions are much like those of October. During the last weeks of November there is a gradual decrease in temperature and thus winter begins, but it is not that cold. The first weeks of November are typically dry and the last week of November is cold. Showers occur in this month due to the Western Disturbance

Western Disturbance

and causes the temperatures to decrease. On 9 November 2010 remnants of Cyclone Jal

Cyclone Jal

Severe Cyclonic Storm Jal , also known as Cyclone Jal, is the fifth named cyclonic storm and the fourth Severe Cyclonic Storm of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Jal developed from a low pressure area in the South China Sea that organized into a Tropical Depression on . Jal is a Sanskrit...

caused gusty winds in the metropolis. The highest rainfall for November is 83.1 millimetres (3.3 in), which occurred in 1959. The highest and lowest temperatures are 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) recorded on 2 November 1994 and 6.1 °C (43 °F) recorded on 29 November 1938 respectively.

December

The month of December is the annual winter month, but winter becomes more chilly in January. In December the weather remains cool. The sky remains cloudy for part of the month, causing temperatures to decrease. Rainfalls are common in the city during the month of December due to the western disturbance coming from the Mediterranean sea

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...

. The highest monthly rainfall of 63.6 millimetres (2.5 in) was recorded in 1980. During December 2006 a strong westerly "low" pressure resulted in 60.5 millimetres (2.4 in) of rain in the city. The highest recorded temperature for December was 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) on 11 December 2001 and the lowest temperature was 1.3 °C (34.3 °F), which occurred on 14 December 1986.

Impact of Climate change

A UK-based climate change expert has warned that there will be an exceptional change in the temperatures in Pakistan as a whole in the coming years, but that the province of Sindh will be less affected as compared to the other provinces of the country. Karachi may however face the threat of rising sea levels by the year 2100, at about 8 feet below sea level. The UK-based climate change expert said that climate change could influence monsoon dynamics and cause summer precipitation levels to drop, as well delays in the start of the monsoon season. While another report said that the impact of climate change in Karachi will deepen by 2030 Due to global warming

Global warming

Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...

the coastline of Karachi is likely to be flooded due to rising sea levels. Many seminars and public gathering are held in the city to make the government and public fully aware of global warming, speakers at the seminar have urged the government to prepare long and short-term plans to reduce the impact of global warming on natural resources. They said that 0.5 million hectares of fertile land in Thatta district alone (12 per cent of the entire cultivated area of Sindh) was affected by sea intrusion. Consequently, the lives of about 400,000 fishermen families were threatened and they are being forced to migrate to other areas. Karachi also faces the threat from super cyclones which are said to increase their intensity and momentum in years to come.

List of cyclones that affected Karachi and the Sindh coast

Cyclones that form in the Arabian Sea

Arabian Sea

do not usually hit Karachi or the Sindh

Sindh

Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

coast, during 1902, 1907, 1944, 1964, 1985, 1999, 2007 and 2010, cyclones made landfall in the Sindh coast including Karachi. Other cyclones that are listed below caused rains as remnants.

In May 1902, a cyclonic storm struck the coast in the vicinity of Karachi.
In June 1907, a tropical storm struck the coast near Karachi.
On 27 July 1944, a cyclone left some 10,000 people homeless in Karachi.
On 12 June 1964, a deadly cyclone made landfall near Karachi.
On 15 December 1965, a powerful cyclone slammed the city with 10,000 casualties.
In May 1985, a cyclonic storm made a landfall in the eastern direction of Karachi. The cyclonic storm in 1985 which was moving towards Karachi actually had weakened over the sea while still a few 100 Kilometers away south of Karachi.
In November 1993, a category 1 1993 Indo-Pak cyclone approached the Sindh-Gujarat border but dissipated due to high vertical shear over open waters.
In June 1998, remnants of the category 3 1998 Gujarat cyclone
1998 Gujarat cyclone
The 1998 Gujarat cyclone was a deadly tropical cyclone that killed at least 10,000 people in India.-Meteorological history:...

(the 5th strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea) killed 12 people near and in the city.
In May 1999, again a category 3 1999 Pakistan cyclone
1999 Pakistan cyclone
The 1999 Pakistan cyclone was a deadly tropical cyclone that brought further devastation to a region struck by a powerful storm nearly a year earlier.-Meteorological history:An area of disturbed weather in the Arabian Sea was monitored in early May for possible development...

(the 4th strongest cyclone of Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...

) hit near the city; this Cyclone killed 700 people in Sindh including Karachi. It is the strongest cyclone recorded in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

.
In May 2001, the powerful category 3 2001 India cyclone
2001 India cyclone
The 2001 India cyclone was the second strongest tropical cyclone, in terms of barometric pressure, to form in the Arabian Sea on record, only Cyclone Gonu in 2007 was stronger. The storm originated from a tropical disturbance that formed east of Somalia on May 18. Over the following few days,...

(the 3rd strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...

) hit the Indian border of Gujarat. It caused rain along the Sindh coast, but no damage was reported.
In October 2004, a severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Onil
Cyclone Onil
Severe Cyclonic Storm Onil was the first tropical cyclone to be named in the northern Indian Ocean...

, approached the Sindh coast but later recurved back to the sea; it caused heavy rain that killed 9 people in Karachi.
In early June 2007, Super cyclonic storm Gonu
Cyclone Gonu
Cyclone Gonu is the strongest tropical cyclone on record in the Arabian Sea, and is also the strongest named cyclone in the northern Indian Ocean...

(the most strongest cyclone in the Arabian sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...

) caused strong gusty winds in the metropolis with light rainfall as the storm was moving towards Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...

.
In June 2007, a cyclonic storm, Cyclone Yemyin
Cyclone Yemyin
Cyclone Yemyin was a deadly tropical cyclone that made landfalls on India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department referred to Tropical Cyclone 03B as "Tropical Cyclone Yemyin"...

, passed near the city and killed 200 people before moving towards Balochistan Province where it killed 380 people.
In November 2009, remnants of Cyclone Phyan
Cyclone Phyan
Cyclonic Storm Phyan developed as a tropical disturbance to the southwest of Colombo in Sri Lanka on November 4, 2009. Over the next couple of days, the disturbance gradually developed before weakening as it made landfall on Southern India on November 7...

caused gusty winds along the Sindh coast including Karachi. However six Pakistani fishermen were trapped in the storm later rescued by the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...

.
In June 2010, Cyclone Phet
Cyclone Phet
Cyclone Phet was the third named cyclone of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Phet developed from a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea that organized into a tropical cyclone on May 31...

(the 2nd strongest cyclone in the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...

), once a powerful category 4 cyclone, made landfall near the city as a weak tropical depression, with a total 14 casualties in and near the city.
In November 2010, remnants of Cyclone Jal
Cyclone Jal
Severe Cyclonic Storm Jal , also known as Cyclone Jal, is the fifth named cyclonic storm and the fourth Severe Cyclonic Storm of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Jal developed from a low pressure area in the South China Sea that organized into a Tropical Depression on . Jal is a Sanskrit...

caused drizzle with dusty winds in Karachi while it caused light to moderate rainfall in southeastern Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

.

Wettest Cyclones in Karachi

Wettest tropical cyclones/depressions in Karachi Highest known recorded totals
Precipitation			Storm	Measurement station
Rank	(mm)	(in)	Storm	Measurement station
1	245 mm	9.64 inches	BOB (2009)	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
2	191 mm	7.51 inches	BOB 06 (2007)	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
3	152 mm	6.0 inches	Phet 2010 Cyclone Phet Cyclone Phet was the third named cyclone of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Phet developed from a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea that organized into a tropical cyclone on May 31...	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
4	110.2 mm	4.34 inches	Yemyin 2007 Cyclone Yemyin Cyclone Yemyin was a deadly tropical cyclone that made landfalls on India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department referred to Tropical Cyclone 03B as "Tropical Cyclone Yemyin"...	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
5	43 mm	1.69 inches	BOB 04 (2007)	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
6	35 mm	1.37 inches	Onil 2004 Cyclone Onil Severe Cyclonic Storm Onil was the first tropical cyclone to be named in the northern Indian Ocean...	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
7	18 mm	0.70 inches	BOB 03 (2009)	Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

Notable floods in Karachi

Most of the flooding in Karachi occurs due to the monsoon season. But due to the enhancement of the city's infrastructure flooding has been controlled. But still excessive and irregular rains can lead to major flooding in the metropolis. Following are some of the major floods in the city;

On 7 August 1953, the city received its record-breaking 24 hour rainfall causing widespread flooding about 278.1 millimetres (10.9 in) rain was recorded.

On 1 July 1977, Karachi received its third highest rainfall of 207 millimetres (8.1 in) in 24 hour, it caused massive flooding in the city and killed 248 people in the city.

In 2003, massive flooding during monsoon season devastated the Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

province, two days of rainfall of 284.5 millimetres (11.2 in) created havoc in the city.

In 2006, after two year of drought period heavy rainfall lashed the city during the monsoon season, but the city came to standstill on 17 August when widespread rainfall of 77 millimetres (3 in) created flood-like situation in the city killing 13 people and submerging roads, low-lying areas and underpasses with rainwater.

In 2007, almost all the rains that occurred in this monsoon season brought flooding with it, During the month of June Cyclone Yemyin
Cyclone Yemyin
Cyclone Yemyin was a deadly tropical cyclone that made landfalls on India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department referred to Tropical Cyclone 03B as "Tropical Cyclone Yemyin"...

created havoc in the city from 21 to 26 June 2007 110.2 millimetres (4.3 in) of heavy downpour was recorded which killed 228 Karachiites on 23 June. then from 9 to 11 August a strong tropical depression brought massive flooding in the city with 191 millimetres (7.5 in) of rain killing 21 people and submerging low-lying areas and underpasses. While on 22 August a monsoon depression once again flooded the city with 80 millimetres (3.1 in) of rainfall killing 10 people.

On 18 July 2009, there was severe flooding
2009 Karachi floods
The 2009 Karachi floods in Pakistan's financial centre, Karachi, have killed at least 26 people. The death toll is expected to rise, and more than 150 people have been injured in a series of related incidents. The floods are the result of the worst rains in the region in thirty years. Further...

due to a tropical depression, in which city's second highest rainfall of 245 mm (9.6 in) occurred in just 4 hours, killing 20 and injuring 150 people.

Droughts in Karachi

Drought-like conditions in the city are not common but if the Monsoon

Monsoon

season fails to deliver rains then drought emerges. Following are some of worst drought in Karachi city.

The major drought in Karachi as well as for whole Pakistan was from 1996 till 2002, peaking from 1998 till 2001. While in 2002 drought conditions started to dissipate. The drought of 1998–2001 was considered worst in 50 years.

In 2004, no rain occurred in the city as well as in Sindh province but during the month of October heavy downpour lashed different parts of Sindh due to Cyclone Onil
Cyclone Onil
Severe Cyclonic Storm Onil was the first tropical cyclone to be named in the northern Indian Ocean...

.

In 2005, the drought conditions continued, but a post-monsoon low pressure dumped heavy rains during 12 and 13 September.

In 2009, drought conditions emerged during the summer season in suburban areas of Karachi. due to El Nino phenomenon and caused drought during the winter season but the monsoon rains of 2009 were above-normal.

Dust storms in Karachi

Windstorms generally occur when a monsoon system or tropical storms is moving towards the city, However dust storms sometimes occur in winter seasons due to Western Disturbance

Western Disturbance

. Dust storms also occur before the onset of monsoon season, they are locally known as Andhi
Kali Andhi
Kali Andhi are violent dust squalls that occur in the late-spring in the northwestern parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain region of the Indian Subcontinent. They are usually brief, but can block out the sun, drastically reduce visibility and cause property damage and injuries...

in the country. Following is a list of windstorms as well as dust storms that occurred in the city, however windstorm generated by a tropical storm is not mentioned in this list.

On 1 September 1926, A windstorm hit Karachi but not much is known about this storm.

On 31 May 1986, A blinding dust storm
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...

hit the city for 15 minutes that toppled trees and advertising signs, overturned vehicles and tore down electrical wiring. It reduced visibility to near zero and blew down flimsy wood and bamboo shanties in Karachi, at least 11 persons were killed and more than 250 injured. The dust storm of 67 mph (107.8 km/h) occurred due to the interaction between the strong cold airflow and monsoon depression present over north western Gujarat.

On 4 July 1994, a windstorm generated by monsoon low pressure system killed 26 people in the city.

On 23 June 2007, a massive dust storm hit the city followed by a heavy downpour, the interaction between a strong low pressure system and the outer bands of Cyclone Yemyin
Cyclone Yemyin
Cyclone Yemyin was a deadly tropical cyclone that made landfalls on India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department referred to Tropical Cyclone 03B as "Tropical Cyclone Yemyin"...

which was still over western india
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

as a tropical depression caused 69 mph (111 km/h) windstorm that uprooted billboards, trees, traffic signals and caused 200 deaths in the city due to the collapse of roofs of many houses in the port city.

On 22 February 2008, a dust storm struck the city which reduced the visibility to merely 500 metres, the dust storm was due to the westerly winds that were coming from the desert regions of Balochistan.

Monsoon precipitation in Karachi

The average annual rainfall for Karachi is 200 millimetres (7.9 in); the highest annual rainfall of 713 millimetres (28.1 in) was recorded in 1967. Annual monsoon

Monsoon

rains for Karachi amount to 146.5 millimetres (5.8 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

Sindh

, including Karachi, which received above normal monsoon rains. Karachi has seen record-breaking rainfalls during monsoon season

Monsoon

since 2003 with the exception of 2004 and 2005. Following is the annual monsoon rainfall for the last few years based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department

Pakistan Meteorological Department

The Pakistan Meteorological Department, also known as Pak Met Office, is a Government of Pakistan organization which works under the Ministry of Defence...

Monsoon precipitation in Karachi Monsoon begins from June till September
Precipitation
Year	(mm)	(in)	References
2000	0.1 mm	0 inches
2001	63.1 mm	2.41 inches
2002	123.1 mm	4.84 inches
2003	355.2 mm	13.98 inches
2004	35 mm	1.37 inches
2005	80.6 mm	3.17 inches
2006	236.7 mm	9.32 inches
2007	421 mm	16.6 inches
2008	91.5 mm	3.60 inches
2009	439.2 mm	17.29 inches
2010	741.9 mm	29.21 inches
2011	436.5 mm	11.51 inches

Pakistan Meteorological Departments in Karachi

Institute of Meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...

& Geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...

– IMG (Training Center) Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
National Seismic Monitoring and Tsunami Early warning Center, Karachi
Climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...

Data Processing Center, Karachi
Tropical Cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...

Warning Center, Karachi
National Seismic Monitoring Center, Karachi
Directorate of Maintenance, Karachi
Directorate of Forecasting and Climatology
Climatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...

, Karachi
Regional Met. Centers: Karachi, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

, Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....

, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Factors

Monthly weather conditions

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Impact of Climate change

List of cyclones that affected Karachi and the Sindh coast

Wettest Cyclones in Karachi

Notable floods in Karachi

Droughts in Karachi

Dust storms in Karachi

Monsoon precipitation in Karachi

Pakistan Meteorological Departments in Karachi

See also

External links