The Heat is On: New highest minimum temperature record broken in Karachi, Pakistan

With 32.5C on July 18th, Karachi, Pakistan, once again shattered its July record for the highest minimum temperatures. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that the city’s minimum temperature was 30.4 degrees Celsius on July 15th, and that the maximum temperature is expected to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius with 73 percent humidity in the coming days. The PMD is attributing the increase in temperatures and rising heat intensity to a low-pressure system in the Arabian sea responsible for the increase of humidity levels, which might lead to further elevated temperatures. 

There is a possible link in early development of low-pressure systems, atmospheric moisture loading in the Arabian sea due to changes in Northern high latitude climates influenced by Arctic warming. The increase in atmospheric moisture and corresponding increase in humidity over nearby continents is also associated with warmer ocean temperatures. (Vidya, 2023). 

Earlier in the month of June Karachi experienced heatwave conditions with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. An influx of patients with acute dehydration and sunstroke overloaded hospitals. A Pakistan NGO, The Edhi Foundation, revealed that over 450 deaths in the city were attributed to heat-related causes, indicating that the situation has worsened already-existing health concerns. 

Climate change and Arctic warming has led to extremely high spring temperatures in India and Pakistan. If countries continue to emit greenhouse gas emissions as usual, the intensity and frequency of heatwaves in vulnerable countries will only continue to increase, with up to 5 more heatwaves per year. A recent study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg projects an increase in heat waves, potentially affecting up to half a billion people annually, leading to food shortages, fatalities, and refugee crises. However, these impacts can be mitigated if measures are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the Paris Agreement targets. 

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