Pakistan(National Times)- KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast the possibility of strong winds and thunderstorm-related rainfall in parts of Karachi on Monday evening (today), offering brief relief from the city’s otherwise hot and humid weather conditions. According to the department, Karachi’s weather will remain warm and humid over the next 24 hours, with maximum temperatures expected to range between 35 degrees Celsius and 37°C. The humidity level currently stands at 43%, while dry northwesterly winds are blowing at a speed of 8 kilometres per hour. The minimum temperature recorded in the past 24 hours was 28°C. Last week, the Met Office said that temperatures in Karachi and other parts of the Sindh province are expected to remain unusually high. Since then, the port city has been in the grip of intense heat, especially from 11am to 4pm. The higher authorities have advised citizens not to go out unnecessarily during this time in order to prevent heat-related medical emergencies. The forecast comes against the backdrop of the last month being the seventh driest and the second hottest April in the country over the past 65 years. The average temperature across the country during April was 27.91 degrees Celsius, which is 3.37°C higher than the long-term average of 24.54°C. Daytime temperatures were particularly alarming, with the average maximum temperature recorded at 36.40°C, surpassing the usual average of 31.74°C by 4.66°C. This made it the second-highest daytime temperature average for the month of April during the last 65 years. April’s rainfall was 59% below average, classifying it among the driest Aprils recorded since 1960. This significant deviation highlights the growing impact of climate change on the country’s weather patterns. These extremes could have serious implications for agriculture, water resources, and public health, particularly as the summer season intensifies.