Cyclone likely to move towards Makran coast

A cyclonic storm is expected to form over the Sindh-Makran coast, bringing heavy rainfall and stormy gusts in the region, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s latest alert, Alert IV.

The Met Office has warned that the system is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the following six hours, moving west-northwestwards towards the Makran coast.

“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 centered 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 Met Office issued a new alert at 6 a.m. on Friday.

The highest persistent surface wind is expected to be 30 to 40 knots, with moderate to very rough sea conditions near the system center, according to the PMD’s advisory.

From tonight (Friday) through Saturday night (October 2), widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms are expected in Karachi, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta, and Jamshoro districts, with dispersed heavy rainfalls, very heavy at times, and stormy gusts.

In Gwadar, Awaran, Lasbela, Kech, Kalat, Panjgur, and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan, widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy rainfall, extremely heavy at times, are expected till Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh has notified all relevant departments of the approaching Cyclone Gulab/Shaheen and instructed that all billboards be removed from the city.

The Sindh Education and Literacy Department has declared that all private and government schools and institutions in the province would be closed today due to the cyclone risk.

Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah presided over the meeting, which resulted in the decision.

Until October 3rd, sea conditions would be severe/very rough, with a significant surge at times (Sunday). Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea until the cyclonic threat is over.