KARACHl: A sudden rise in temperature is expected in the city over the weekend due to a change in wind direction.

The maximum temperature recorded on Thursday was 33 degrees centigrade, while it is expected to climb up to 40 degrees centigrade on Saturday and Sunday when the city will receive dry westerly/northwesterly continental winds, according to an official at the meteorological department.

Responding to Dawn`s queries, Karachi Met Office chief Abdul Rashid said that owing to changes in the atmospheric conditions in the area within the next couple of days, the wind direction was expected to change. With this, the metropolis would begin receiving dry westerly/north-westerly continental winds, he said. The temperature could touch the 40-degree mark on Saturday and Sunday after which it may come down, he added.

He said hot and dry weather was expected in the city on Friday with the maximum temperature expected to range between 36 and 38 degrees centigrade. Mr Rashid said that the northern parts of the province were experiencing hot weather and maximum temperature recorded in Moenjodaro was 43.5 degrees. Some other towns and cities in the province where high temperature was recorded were: Dadu (42.5 degrees centigrade); Jacobabad, Larkana, Padidan, Rohri and Sukkur (42 degrees); Nawabshah (40.5); Hyderabad, Sakrand and Tando Jam (39.5).