Pakistan says potential cyclone over Arabian Sea expected to emerge along Sindh coast tonight

A fisherman moors his boat at Karachi Harbour, amid cyclonic winds in Karachi on August 29, 2024. (AFP)
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  • Under the system, widespread rain and thunderstorms, along with isolated heavy rainfall, were expected till Aug. 31
  • Sea conditions are likely to remain very rough with squally winds of 50 to 60 km per hour, the PMD alert warned

ISLAMABAD: A potential cyclone that has developed over the Rann of Kutch in India is likely to emerge along the coast of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province late tonight, Thursday, or Friday morning, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Thursday.

According to the PMD alert, a deep depression over the Rann of Kutch had very slowly moved west/southwest over the last 12 hours and now lay around 270 kilometers east/southeast of Karachi.

“The system is likely to move west/southwestwards & emerge into northeast Arabian Sea along Sindh coast by late night/ tomorrow morning,” the statement read, adding that due to “favorable environmental conditions,” the system was likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by tomorrow, Friday, and initially move in the west/southwest direction.

Under the system’s influence, widespread rain and thunderstorms, along with isolated heavy rainfall, were expected till Aug. 31 with occasional gaps in the Karachi division as well as Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad districts.

Sea conditions are likely to remain very rough with squally winds of 50 to 60 km per hour, the PMD alert warned, advising fishermen not to venture into the sea till August 31.

“PMD’s cyclone warning center in Karachi is monitoring the system and will issue the update accordingly,” the statement said. “The concerned authorities are requested to keep them abreast through PMD advisory.”

The powerful weather system made its presence felt early on Tuesday morning with a windstorm and heavy showers lashing Karachi, disrupting life and damaging civic infrastructure.