Karachi has a tropical semi arid climate (Köppen: BSh; Trewartha: BShb), albeit a moderate version of this climate, influenced by monsoons. Karachi has a tropical climate, despite being located slightly above the Tropic of Cancer. It is situated in the monsoon region of Pakistan. It is located on the coast bordering the Arabian Sea, and as a result, has a relatively mild climate. However, in more recent years, rainfall has become more abundant, with annual rainfall projected to reach over 500 mm by 2100. For this reason, the city may be classed as almost semi-arid (BSh), since it has a mild climate with a short but defined wet season, along with a lengthy dry season.
Karachi has two main seasons; summer and winter, while spring and autumn are very short. The Summer season persists for the longest period during the year. Karachi also receives the rains from late June to mid-September (Monsoon). The city experiences a tropical climate encompassing warm and dry winters and very hot, humid and rainy summers. The humidity levels usually remain high from March to November, while they are very low in winter as the wind direction in winter is north-east. The temperature in winter season sometimes goes below 10 °C and day temperature is about 26 °C.
On 27 December 2021, the metropolis broke a 13-year record and experienced the coldest day with the maximum temperature dropping to .
Charts
January The month of January is the coolest month of the year in the city, with mostly clear skies and a constant N, NE breeze blowing. The influx of very cold and very dry Siberian winds (called "Quetta Waves" in common parlance), bring brief and cold spells to the region, dropping the night temperatures to below 10 degrees Celsius. Western Disturbances from the Persian Gulf and Iran affect the city during this time, bringing with them light rainfall. The highest rainfall during this month was , which was recorded in 1995. The highest temperature of was recorded in January 2018. The average high for the month is 24.6 °C while the average low for the month is a mild 6 °C.
The lowest temperature was 0.0 °C on January 21-1934
From January 22-31 2026 a week long severe coldwave gripped Karachi bringing icy Siberian winds dropping the temperature to 6°C making the feels like temperature 4°C due to cold winds
February The cold waves can affect the metropolis until the middle of the month, after which a warming trend begins in the city. The relative humidity also tends to increase after the middle of the month. The lowest temperature was on 11 February 1950 and the highest was on 27 February 2016. The highest monthly rainfall of was recorded in 1979. Western depressions can continue to affect the city during this month, often causing overcast skies and light to moderate rainfall. The intensity of rainfall in February is relatively higher compared to the preceding month. The average high for the month is a pleasant 27.7 °C whereas the lows hover around 15 °C. However, on the night on 3-February-2024 a strong thunderstorm along with heavy rain ripped Karachi bringing 75-77mm in just 1.5 hours which is the second highest rainfall since 1979 of February
March Weather turns quite warm with the start of March, with increasing humidity and intensity of sunshine. The highest temperature was recorded at 42 °C in 2004, and then again in 2010 and 2022. March is considered spring time in the city, when the skies are usually clear blue and W/SW breeze dominates, making the outdoors much more pleasant. Western depressions can bring moderate to at times even heavy rainfall. In the recent years, Karachi has received quite heavy rainfall in the month of March, for instance on 18 March 1997, the city received 25 mm rainfall from an overnight thunderstorm. On 11 March 2007, a strong western depression gave up to 35 mm rainfall in the city, during which intermittent moderate to heavy rain continued in the metropolis from morning until midnight. On 19 March 2007, once again an isolated heavy downpour lashed the city, in which the northern parts (North Karachi) received 53 mm rainfall in less than an hour, while other areas received lesser precipitation.on 13 March 2015, an overnight dose of heavy rain lashed mainly the southern and SE areas of the city. Between 10 and 15 mm rainfall was recorded in these areas within 15 minutes. However, Gulshan-e-Hadeed observatory (located ESE of the metropolis in the outskirts), received 40 mm downpour on the same night.Most recently on 1 March 2024 the city received heavy rainfall all day.The all-time high for the month was a mighty , recorded in 1967, which is March's highest rainfall for the city. On March-18-2026 a deadly squall along with a severe thunderstorm and heavy rain ripped Karachi bringing wind speeds of 80-90km/h with some areas exceeding 90km/h+. The highest rainfall was reported in Korangi of 55.6mm while most areas saw 8-35mm in just one hour killing 21 people and injuring 27
April Moving into April, the temperatures and humidity see an increasing trend. The highest temperature of April was , recorded on 16 April 1947, while the lowest temperature of was recorded on 29 April 1967. The highest monthly rainfall of was recorded in 1935. The average high for the month is 34.3 °C while the average low is 22.3 °C. Although it is rare for the metropolis to get rainfall in this month, in recent times, April 2013 was quite exceptional as the metropolis was blessed by heavy rain on three occasions: On 2 April 2013, a thunder storm gave heavy rain in northern parts of the city where 12.6 mm rain was recorded. On 8 April 2013, a strong western depression from the Persian Gulf affected the city, giving widespread heavy rainfall in the morning, accompanied by strong winds; a maximum of 28 mm rainfall was recorded. On 22 April 2013, a strong thunderstorm ripped across the metropolis at mid-day, giving very heavy rainfall specially in central, NW and southern parts of the city. Downtown (Saddar) observatory in south Karachi received an accumulation of 66 mm for the month, however, the record for the highest rainfall in April stands unbroken because the record of 52.8 mm in 1935 was set at the Airport observatory, while the total rainfall recorded at the Airport in April 2013 was 29 mm. The April 2015 was very warm in Karachi, as it was 2.4 °C warmer on average compared to a standard April. On 28-29 April 2023 Karachi's outskirts got rain while the most remained dry with only thunderclouds while on 30-April-2023 a cloudburst ripped in Bahria Town while other areas remained dry. On 14-April-2024 Karachi saw 29mm with thunderstorm and lightning. On 2-April-2026 an unusual major Western Disturbance dipped south bringing 25-45mm in most areas with isolated areas seeing 50-70mm continuing till midnight with temperature dipping to 16°C, the lowest since 1967
May May is the hottest month in Karachi, highest temperature was recorded on 9 May 1938, when temperatures reached while the lowest temperature was , recorded on 4 May 1989. The humidity in the month is quite high, often surpassing 60% and coupled with temperatures ranging between 35 and 37 °C, the heat indices are generally quite high, making the outdoors highly uncomfortable. Rainfall in May is a rare occurrence. Recently, a very strong thunderstorm affected the metropolis early on 2 May 1997. 40 mm rainfall was recorded at Masroor Base, while the Airport received 6 mm rain. The highest monthly rain that occurred was in May 1933, when rain lashed the city.Karachi . Pakmet.com.pk. Retrieved 18 October 2011. In 1999, 2001 and 2010, three major cyclones formed that came close to Karachi. The 1999 cyclone (the fourth strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea) hit close to Karachi, along the coast of Thatta and Keti Bandar giving massive rainfall and causing widespread damage in these areas while the city of Karachi only received very strong NE winds, with light showers (traces). 2001 Indian Ocean cyclone was the third strongest cyclone of the Arabian Sea, that made landfall near the Indian border. Cyclone Phet formed in May 2010, about 1100 km away from Karachi. It travelled along the coast, striking Oman then affecting the coast of Balochistan, giving record-breaking rain amounts there. Gwadar, for instance, got 372 mm rainfall in 36 hours. In May 1902, a cyclonic storm struck the coast in the vicinity of Karachi.
June
The temperatures of June are almost identical to May, with just a slight decrease. The highest temperature of June was , recorded on 18 June 1979, and the lowest was , recorded on 3 June 1997. On 6 June 2010, Cyclone Phet came close to the coast of Karachi as a tropical depression, at about 50 km away from the city after a week-long journey. About of rain with winds struck the city. 95 mm rainfall was recorded at the Airport observatory whereas 150 mm was recorded at Masroor Base. That's why once again, the official record for highest rainfall in the month of June, which was set at the Airport observatory in June 2007 i.e. 110 mm, stands unbroken. The average maximum temperature for the month of June is 34.8 °C whereas the average low is 27.9 °C.
2015 heat wave
June 2015 was incredibly hot and humid in Karachi, being 1.8 °C warmer than an average June in the metropolis. Between 18 June and 23 June 2015, a severe heatwave struck the city; during these days, the maximum temperature remained in the range of 40 °C to 45 °C whereas the minimum temperature was between 30 °C and 33 °C. Due to humidity levels ranging between 40 and 50%, coupled with high temperature, the heat indices recorded in the city were above 50 °C during these days. The highest temperature during this heatwave was 45 °C (reached first time since 8 June 2000, when the temperature had soared to 45.5 °C), recorded on 20 June 2015, while the minimum temperature on this day was 31 °C. On 21 June 2015, the highest temperature was 43 °C whereas the minimum was 33 °C. The abnormal heat and humidity, coupled with government specifically K-Electric's apathy towards the masses, claimed the lives of 1234 people in Karachi in one week.
July
In the month of July, the city is likely to start receiving rainfall from monsoon systems, that strike the metropolis from the Indian states of Rajasthan or Gujarat. Fast breeze from the W/SW blows throughout the day with stratus clouds covering the sky for most part of the day and night, making the weather very pleasant. Drizzle increases in intensity in this month, mostly occurring during night and early morning. At times, showers of considerable intensity can also lash the metropolis from these weak clouds, causing up to a few millimetres of rain. Heavy rains lash the city when a strong monsoon system strikes the region. Average high for the month is 33.1 °C whereas average low is 27.4 °C. The highest July temperature of was recorded on 3 July 1958 and the lowest temperature was on 22 July 1997.The highest monthly rainfall was recorded on July 2022 with 605 mm rain. : Sindh province overall witnessed over 308% more rainfall than average during this historic monsoon spell.. On 27 July 1944, a cyclone left some 10,000 people homeless in Karachi.Living with disasters On July-18-2009 a strong monsoon system from Bay of Bengal gave 147mm one day while unofficial stations recorded 205mm
August