The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) advised authorities in Sindh and Balochistan on Saturday to remain alert as a \u201cvery severe\u201d cyclonic storm, Biparjoy, over the Arabian Sea was maintaining its intensity and lay 910 kilometres south of Karachi.<\/p>\n
The cyclone \u2014 initially reported to pose no danger to Pakistan\u2019s coastal areas \u2014 a day earlier changed its course and began moving towards the coastal areas. As of June 9, it was a little over 1,100km away. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman had advised the provincial disaster management authorities Sindh and Balochistan to \u201ctake stock of preparations and ensure public safety for communities in coastal areas\u201d.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, the provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) of Sindh and Balochistan were put on alert and fishermen had also been advised to not venture into the sea.<\/p>\n
In a notification issued today, the Met department said the system\u2019s location was \u201cfurther tracked north-northeastward during past 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 16.7\u00b0N & Longitude 66.4\u00b0E\u201d.<\/p>\n
Listing the distances from Pakistan\u2019s coastal cities, the PMD said the storm lay at a distance of \u201cabout 910km south of Karachi, 890km south of Thatta and 990km southeast of Ormara\u201d.<\/p>\n
It further said, \u201cThe favourable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32\u00b0C, low vertical wind shear and upper-level divergence) are in support to intensify the system further.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maximum sustained surface winds were 120-130km\/hour while gusts of 150km\/hour were around the system centre, the department said.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cmay get very rough\/high, accompanied with high tides along [the] coast\u201d.<\/p>\n
The PMD noted there was an uncertainty in the \u201cglobal models\u2019 final track forecast\u201d of the cyclone, with some taking it to the Makran-North Oman coast and others indicating it towards the Indian Gujarat-Sindh coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Detailing the possible impacts of the cyclone, the department warned that if the system took its probable north-northeast track, a \u201crain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls and squally winds\u201d could be expected in the Sindh-Makran coast from June 13 evening\/night onwards.<\/p>\n
It further highlighted, \u201cSqually (high-intensity) winds may cause damage to loose and vulnerable structures.\u201d<\/p>\n
The PMD also noted that the sea conditions were \u201cvery high\/phenomenal around the system canter with maximum wave height 25-28 feet\u201d. It said its cyclone warning centre in Karachi was monitoring the system and will issue updates accordingly<\/p>\n
The National Disaster Management Authority shared a possible \u201cdevelopment path\u201d for the cyclone, which was predicted this morning. It added, \u201cIt is an evolving situation and impact will only be certain with further development of [the system].\u201d<\/p>\n
In a video, it said it has directed the relevant authorities to remain alert and take necessary precautions.<\/p>\n
In a tweet, Karachi\u2019s Defence Housing Authority cited the PMD\u2019s warning about the cyclone hitting the city\u2019s coastal areas between June 13 and 16.<\/p>\n
Hence, it advised its residents to stay alert, take precautions and stay indoors during the said days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) advised authorities in Sindh and Balochistan on Saturday to remain alert as a \u201cvery severe\u201d cyclonic storm, Biparjoy, over the Arabian Sea was maintaining its intensity and lay 910 kilometres south of Karachi. The cyclone \u2014 initially reported to pose no danger to Pakistan\u2019s coastal areas \u2014 a day earlier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":336735,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-336727","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n