PMD says cyclone 240km to east-southeast

F.P. Report

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning for the likelihood that a cyclonic storm will develop along the Sindh-Makran coast within the next 18 hours.

The Met Office, in the latest advisory issued on Thursday evening, said that “the depression over northeast Arabian Sea has moved west-northwestward at a speed of 20km/h during last 12 hours, and now lies at latitude 23.0N and longitude 67.8E, at a distance of about 240km east-southeast of Karachi”.

It further stated that it is at a distance of 200km from Thatta and 410km from Ormara.

“The system is likely to strengthen further into a cyclonic storm during next 12-18 hours and move west-northwestwards,” it added.

Influence of the weather system

Under the influence of the system, people in Sindh can expect widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy rainfall — extremely heavy at times — accompanied with squally winds in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thaparker, Umerkot, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Nosheroferoz, Tando Muhammad Khan (TMK), Tando Allayar (TAY), Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Ghotki districts from today afternoon or late evening to Saturday, October 2.

In addition, widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy rainfall — extremely heavy at times — is likely in Balochistan’s Gwadar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, Khuzdar, Kalat and Panjgur districts from today to Sunday, October 3.

Possible impacts

The sea conditions in this period would remain rough/very rough with high surges at times. This will continue till Sunday, October3.

Fishermen are advised not to venture in the sea from today to Sunday, October 3.

Torrential rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Lasbela, Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat, and Jandiwani.

Windstorms may cause damage to vulnerable structures.

PMD’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi is closely monitoring the system and updates will be issued accordingly.