Authorities remained on high alert on Thursday as Cyclone Biparjoy, currently classified as a \u201cvery severe cyclonic storm\u201d had \u201cslowed down\u201d and would not make landfall until after dusk, according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman.<\/p>\n
\u201cCyclone Biparjoy has slowed down but core remains intense,\u201d she said on Twitter. \u201cIt will not make landfall before nightfall now. More information will be shared soon from the National Disaster Management Authority.\u201d<\/p>\n
In its morning forecast, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the cyclone was expected to landfall between Keti Bandar and India\u2019s Gujarat by evening.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Key developments<\/p>\n
Cyclone 230km south of Karachi, 235km south Thatta and 155km south-southwest of Keti Bandar
\nSherry Rehman says cyclone slowed down and won\u2019t make landfall before night
\nOver 72,000 people have been evacuated; says there is a possibility of another cyclone in July
\n75,000 people evacuated in India\u2019s western state of Gujarat
\nIt said that Biparjoy was likely to keep tracking northeastward and cross between Keti
\nBandar 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.<\/p>\n
The alert said that widespread wind-dust\/thunderstorm and heavy rain was likely in Sindh\u2019s Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from Jun 15-17.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
It added that dust\/thunderstorm and isolated heavy rainfall was likely in Balochistan\u2019s Hub, Lasbela and Khuzdar districts today and tomorrow.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSea 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),\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman also shared what she called a \u201cconsolidated report\u201d from all disaster management departments and the weather satellite.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, over 300mm of rainfall was predicted in Thatta, Sajawal, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Umerkot and Tharparkar between June 15-17.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Authorities remained on high alert on Thursday as Cyclone Biparjoy, currently classified as a \u201cvery severe cyclonic storm\u201d had \u201cslowed down\u201d and would not make landfall until after dusk, according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman. \u201cCyclone Biparjoy has slowed down but core remains intense,\u201d she said on Twitter. \u201cIt will not make landfall before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":337830,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-337822","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n