5 Weather

 The fierce heat of the Karachi day had begun its slow, reluctant retreat. As the sun dipped towards the Arabian Sea on this Thursday, May 15th, 2025, casting long shadows that stretched and distorted familiar landmarks, a subtle shift occurred in the city's atmosphere. The temperature, which had climbed to a peak of around 35 or 36 degrees Celsius earlier in the afternoon, was now gradually easing, settling into the low 30s. But in Karachi, the true story of the weather was never just about the number on the thermometer. It was about the feel , a complex interplay of temperature, humidity, and that life-giving force, the sea breeze. And today, the "feels like" temperature was telling the real tale of the city's embrace. Even as the actual temperature descended, the air remained thick, laden with moisture pulled from the vast expanse of the ocean. The forecast had highlighted this – a day where 35 degrees felt closer to 39 or 40 under the midday sun, and where the eve...

 The city of Porto, a place where terracotta rooftops cascade down to the curve of the Douro River and history is etched into every cobblestone, began its day on May 13th, 2025, not with a dramatic sunrise, but with a soft, diffused light. The sky was draped in a mantle of clouds, not thick and foreboding, but a gentle, pervasive gray that hinted at introspection rather than imminent downpour. It was a morning for slower awakenings, for savouring that first strong coffee while watching the light gradually increase without the sharp intrusion of direct sun. The air carried the distinct scent of the coast, that briny tang that is never far away in Porto. Mixed with it, as the city stirred, were the everyday aromas – the faint exhaust from the first trams, the sweet promise from local pastelerias, and the damp earth smell from the potted plants gracing balconies. The temperature in these early hours was cool, settling in the high 40s Fahrenheit (around 9-10°C), feeling slightly cooler...