Met Office warns heavy rains as cyclone storm to hit Sindh coast tonight

ISLAMABAD: The Met Office has said that a deep depression, a very strong low-pressure area, over Rann of Kutch, India, has moved slowly west-southwest during the last 12 hours and it is now located at approximately 270 kilometres east/southeast of Karachi.

The Met Office has warned that more heavy downpours and strong winds were expected to lash the Sindh coast.

It said that the system is likely to continue moving west-southwestwards and emerge into the northeast Arabian Sea along the Sindh coast by late tonight or tomorrow morning.

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Favorable environmental conditions, including sea surface temperature, low to moderate vertical wind shear, and upper-level divergence, suggest that the system is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm (CS) by tomorrow and initially move in a west/southwest direction.

The Met Office said that under its influence, widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms, with scattered heavy to very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls, are expected in Tharparker, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Alla Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts, as well as the Karachi division until August 31, with intermittent intervals.

The Met Office said that sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough, with squally winds reaching 50-60 km/hour. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until August 31.

Rain also triggered flash floods in port city of Karachi, causing power outages, media reported.

The PMD’s cyclone warning centre in Karachi is monitoring the system and will issue updates accordingly. Authorities concerned have been asked to stay informed through PMD advisories.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed all institutions to remain alert in view of the stormy rains and storm alert across the province.

He stated that according to the storm forecast, there is a possibility of heavy rains in most districts of the province.

The chief minister also ordered local bodies to be more active and instructed all hospitals in the province to improve their management. He emphasized that hospital staff should ensure their attendance during the stormy rains.

The Commissioner Karachi has imposed a ban on bathing in the sea. According to the notification issued by Commissioner Karachi, bathing in the sea is prohibited, and action will be taken against those who violate Section 144. The Commissioner Karachi has also appealed to citizens to avoid going to the sea due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Additionally, Deputy Commissioner of Sanghar, Dr Imran Al Hasan Khawaja, has announced a public holiday in all public and private schools across the district on Thursday and Friday, August 29 and 30 due to heavy rains.

The Sindh Department of Education and Literacy had given the power to declare public holidays to the deputy commissioners of all districts following the heavy rain prediction by the Met Office.

In Jamshoro, educational institutions will remain closed from August 29 to 31 due to the rains. Similarly, in Nawabshah, educational institutions will remain closed on August 30 in view of the heavy rains.

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