ISLAMABAD
The Pakistan Meteorological Department advised authorities in Sindh and Balochistan to stay alert as cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ in Arabian Sea is just 90km away with its maintained intensity.
Initially it was reported that cyclone poses no threat to Pakistan’s coastal but earlier day the cyclone changed its course toward coastal areas. On June 09, it was 1100km away from the coast.
Climate minister Sherry Rehman directed prvinicial disaster management authorities to be prepare with stock to ensure public safety of coastal area communities.
Provincial disaster management authority (PDMAs) of Sindh and Balochistan were alerted and fishermen were stopped from any venture into sea.
In latest notification today Met department said system’s location was further tracked north eastward in last 12 hours and now is near latitude 16.7 degree & longitude of 66.4degree east.
PMD said the cyclone is at the distance of 910 km south from Karachi, 890km southeast from Thatta and 990km southeast of Ormara.
It further said, “The favourable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32°C, low vertical wind shear and upper-level divergence) are in support to intensify the system further.”
Maximum sustained surface winds were 120-130km/hour while gusts of 150km/hour were around the system centre, the department said.
The Met department also advised fishermen to not venture into the open sea from June 11 onwards till the system was over as the sea conditions “may get very rough/high, accompanied with high tides along [the] coast”.
The PMD noted there was an uncertainty in the “global models’ final track forecast” of the cyclone, with some taking it to the Makran-North Oman coast and others indicating it towards the Indian Gujarat-Sindh coast.
“Given the said uncertainty, the system is predicted to keep tracking further north/northeastward during next 18-24 hours and then slightly recurve to North-northwest,” it said.
Detailing the possible impacts of the cyclone, the department warned that if the system took its probable north-northeast track, a “rain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls and squally winds” could be expected in the Sindh-Makran coast from June 13 evening/night onwards.
It further highlighted, “Squally (high-intensity) winds may cause damage to loose and vulnerable structures.”
The PMD also noted that the sea conditions were “very high/phenomenal around the system canter with maximum wave height 25-28 feet”. It said its cyclone warning centre in Karachi was monitoring the system and will issue updates accordingly
The National Disaster Management Authority shared a possible “development path” for the cyclone, which was predicted this morning. It added, “It is an evolving situation and impact will only be certain with further development of [the system].”
In a video, it said it has directed the relevant authorities to remain alert and take necessary precautions. In a tweet, Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority cited the PMD’s warning about the cyclone hitting the city’s coastal areas between June 13 and 16.
Hence, it advised its residents to stay alert, take precautions and stay indoors during the said days.
