KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued another advisory – Alert IV – that a cyclonic storm will develop along the Sindh-Makran coast, causing torrential rains and squally winds in the region.
The PMD, in its latest advisory issued at 6am Friday, said, “Depression over the northeast Arabian Sea moved west-northwestward at a speed of 15km/hr during last 12 hours, concentrated into a Deep Depression and now lies centred near latitude 23.5N and longitude 66.5E, at a distance of about 160 km south-southwest of Karachi, 140km from Thatta and 270km from Ormara.”
The alert of Met Office said the estimated maximum sustained surface wind is 30 – 40Kts and that the sea condition is rough to very rough around the system centre.
The Met Office cautioned that the system is likely to strengthen further into a cyclonic storm during the next six hours and move west-northwestwards towards Makran coast.
Widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy falls, extremely heavy at times, accompanied with squally winds are likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Dadu and Jamshoro districts from today Oct 1 (Friday) to 2nd Oct (Saturday) night.
Widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy falls, extremely heavy at times, are likely in Gwadar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, Khuzdar, Kalat and Panjgur districts of Balochistan till 3 Oct (Sunday) night.
Scattered rain-wind/thunderstorm also expected in Thaparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan (TMK), Tando Allayar (TAY), Shaheed Benazirabad, Nosheroferoz, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur & Ghotki districts till 2nd Oct (Saturday).
Sea conditions would remain rough/very rough with high surge at times till Oct 3 (Sunday). Fishermen are advised not to venture in the sea till 3rd October (Sunday).
Torrential rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Lasbela, Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat & Jiwani. Windstorm may cause damages to vulnerable structures.
PMD Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Karachi said it is closely monitoring the system and updates will be issued accordingly.
The Met Office also called upon all concerned authorities to remain on High ALERT during the forecast period.
The chances of heavy rains in the city have decreased, Director Met Sardar Sarfaraz said on Friday.
Sarfaraz said there may be moderate to heavys rain in some parts of the city as the “Deep Depression” is moving away from the coastal areas of Sindh. However, Balochistan’s coastal belt is under threat and will receive very heavy rainfall.
He said that the chances of urban flooding in Karachi have also decreased.
Read more: Karachi weather update: PMD issues latest cyclone alert; storm 340km to east-southeast
