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First Monsoon Downpours for Karachi, Sindh

September 06, 2012; 8:07 AM

Thunderstorms unleashed late-season downpours in much of Sindh, Pakistan, this week, giving Karachi its first soaking rain of the year.

More rain is forecast.

The downpours followed months of July and August that gave only scanty rainfall in Sindh as well as western Gujarat. Some spots barely received measurable rainfall.

Several cities in Sindh had 20 to 40 mm of rain in the 24 hours ended Thursday, Sept. 7, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said.

In Karachi, Wednesday's sudden cloudbursts filled drains to overflowing, leaving some streets awash, the Pakistan Daily Times website said.

There were at least two rain-related deaths in Sindh, the Dawn website said. Some crop damage was also cited.

In Karachi, flooding led to traffic pileups, and electrical blackouts were also reported, owing to felled trees and power poles.

Children play in flooded city streets of Karachi, Pakistan, flooded by the year's first big monsoon downpours Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2012 (AP Photo/Shakil Adil).

Thursday, thunderstorms billowed once again, striking Karachi and parts of Sindh late in the day.

The summer rainy season of July-August, powered by the South West Monsoon, has been deficient in the far west of the Indian Subcontinent, especially in Sindh and the neighboring state of Gujarat, India.

August rainfall at the Karachi Airport was 8.3 mm (0.33 of an inch), according to the PMD. Normally, monthly rainfall is 60 mm (2.36 inches).

July rainfall was even lower, estimated by AccuWeather.com at only 1 mm (0.04 of an inch).

Meanwhile, September is not known as a rainy month in Sindh. Karachi normally gets only 10.1 mm (0.40 of an inch), the PMD website said.

Through at least the first half of next week, more rain, including localized flooding downpours, will target the plains of Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan, as well as nearby western India, including areas of greatest rainfall deficit, AccuWeather.com forecasters believe.

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com