Authorities remained on high alert on Thursday as Cyclone Biparjoy, currently classified as a “very severe cyclonic storm” had “slowed down” and would not make landfall until after dusk, according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman.
“Cyclone Biparjoy has slowed down but core remains intense,” she said on Twitter. “It will not make landfall before nightfall now. More information will be shared soon from the National Disaster Management Authority.”
In its morning forecast, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the cyclone was expected to landfall between Keti Bandar and India’s Gujarat by evening.
The alert issued by the PMD said that cyclone had moved north-northeastward during the last six hours and was now at a distance of about 230km south of Karachi, 235km south Thatta and 155km south-southwest of Keti Bandar.
Key developments
Cyclone 230km south of Karachi, 235km south Thatta and 155km south-southwest of Keti Bandar
Sherry Rehman says cyclone slowed down and won’t make landfall before night
Over 72,000 people have been evacuated; says there is a possibility of another cyclone in July
75,000 people evacuated in India’s western state of Gujarat
It said that Biparjoy was likely to keep tracking northeastward and cross between Keti
Bandar and the Indian Gujarat coast in the evening. The alert said the cyclone would bring winds between 100-120km/h with gusts up to 140km/h.
The alert said that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm and heavy rain was likely in Sindh’s Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from Jun 15-17.
It further predicted dust/thunderstorm and rain accompanied with squally winds in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad & Sanghar districts today and tomorrow (Friday).
It added that dust/thunderstorm and isolated heavy rainfall was likely in Balochistan’s Hub, Lasbela and Khuzdar districts today and tomorrow.
The weather alert said that a storm surge of 3-4 metres was expected at Keti Bander, where the cyclone will make landfall, and its surroundings.
“Sea conditions along Sindh coast may get very rough/high (2-2.5m) and rough/very rough (2m) along Balochistan coast (Sonmiani, Hub, Kund Malir. Ormara and surroundings),” it said.
Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman also shared what she called a “consolidated report” from all disaster management departments and the weather satellite.
The report, however, said the cyclone would make landfall by midday. It also said that over 100mm of rainfall was predicted in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar.
Meanwhile, over 300mm of rainfall was predicted in Thatta, Sajawal, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Umerkot and Tharparkar between June 15-17.
