KARACHI: Hot desert winds took over the city on Thursday causing a spike in temperature which rose to 40 degrees Celsius with 53 per cent relative humidity.

A day earlier, the city had experienced a sudden and brief, but strong spell of showers that claimed four lives, apart from causing serious civic problems.

`Whenever a low pressure system builds up or culminates, it is followed by hot weather as dry winds fill the vacuum,` explained Dr Sardar Sarfaraz, adding that northeasterly winds blocked the southwesterly sea breeze which led to an increase in temperature. The sea breeze was restored by 4pm.

`The weather will remain hot and humid on Friday and is likely to improve by Saturday.

Meanwhile, the met department in its daily forecast has predicted isolated dust/thunderstorms in Umarkot, Tharparker, Sanghar, and Mirpurkhas districts.

`Hot/very hot weather is likely to return to central and upper Sindh from 24 June onwards with daytime maximum temperature expected to remain between 46-48°C in Dadu, Jacobabad, Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot and Nawabshah districts,` the department stated in its advisory.

In Karachi, the maximum temperature is likely to range between 36°C and 38°C on Friday.