Monsoon Alert: Karachi Braces for Heavy Rains and Potential Flooding

Weather authorities have issued a warning for Karachi, anticipating substantial monsoon rainfall. The city, already dealing with its tenth wet spell, faces the risk of urban flooding as vigorous winds and heavy downpours are expected to batter the coastal region on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has indicated that Karachi should brace for intermittent spells of moderate to heavy rainfall, spanning from Tuesday morning until late into the night.

The weather advisory specifically highlights the likelihood of “very heavy downpours” in Karachi today. This is attributed to a robust monsoon system that retains its intensity as a deep depression positioned over land, focusing over the Tharparkar area.

A PMD representative conveyed that the weather system is projected to move near Karachi on Tuesday, prompting a warning that conditions in the city “may remain severe.” Wind speeds could reach 60 to 70 kilometres per hour during this period.

“This weather pattern is generating considerable rainfall and has the capacity to unleash rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres in Karachi throughout its duration,” stated PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir, also raising concerns about potential urban flooding given the city’s susceptible infrastructure.

The advisory notes that low-lying areas face the possibility of inundation, and residents are strongly encouraged to avoid structurally unsound buildings and remain indoors during periods of intense rainfall.

Elsewhere in Sindh, rainfall totals reached up to 80 millimetres during the previous wet spell, according to the weather department.

Karachi’s strained drainage infrastructure is unlikely to manage significant rainfall effectively, and residents vividly recall instances of flooded streets and immobilized commuters.

However, city officials are projecting an image of preparedness, with traffic management personnel reporting their active deployment to maintain orderly traffic flow.

“We are actively present across all city areas to prevent traffic congestion,” stated DIG Traffic, adding that these initiatives were enacted under the chief minister’s directives. The information department has also communicated that traffic circulation remains normal throughout the city.

Nevertheless, the potential for disruption is palpable as K-Electric, the city’s power distributor, has announced a state of heightened readiness. A company representative disclosed that fewer than 60 of its 2,100-plus feeders experienced disruptions during the recent rains. As a safety measure, power was temporarily suspended in certain low-lying areas and locations with unauthorized connections.

Currently, Karachi’s traffic operations are generally stable, and power services are mostly uninterrupted. However, the true test will come with the onset of the first major downpour. The city remains on alert, with hopes of avoiding yet another inundation.

According to rainfall figures shared by the Met Office, between 5 pm and 8 am (Sunday to Monday), Karachi received light rain in several locations, with Korangi recording the highest rainfall at 8mm. Additional rainfall measurements included Gulshan-e-Hadeed (5mm), University Road (3mm), Gulshan-e-Memar (3.5mm), Shahrah-e-Faisal (2mm), Old Airport (2.6mm), North Karachi (1.2mm), DHA (1.5mm), Keamari (4mm), Jinnah Terminal (3mm), and Surjani Town (2mm), as detailed by the PMD.

The Met Office has projected intermittent heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, and other districts until September 10.