KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning for the likelihood that a cyclonic storm will develop along the Sindh-Makran coast in the next 24 hours.
The PMD, in a weather advisory issued on Thursday afternoon, said that the “well-marked low-pressure area over south Gujarat, India, after moving over Northeast Arabian Sea, has intensified into a depression and now lies around latitude 22.5°N and longitude 69.4°E, at a distance of about 340km in east-southeast direction of Karachi”.
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.
The sea conditions in this period would remain rough/very rough with high surges at times. This will continue till Sunday, October 3.
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.
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Several cities of Sindh along the coastal belt, including Thatta and Badin have begun to receive rainfall.
Stormy winds are blowing along the Keti Bandar port and several huts belonging to fishermen have been swept away.
Most fishermen have parked their boats along the shore and are avoiding going out to sea.
Balochistan’s coastal areas are also expected to receive heavy rainfall.
PMD has asked fishermen to refrain from venturing out to sea from today to Sunday, October 3.
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