PMD says Cyclone Biparjoy could impact Pakistan coasts

KARACHI: Tropical cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea, which turned into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS), has further intensified during the last 12 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said Friday.

As per the latest alert, the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) Biparjoy, persisting with its intensity, slightly changed its course and slowly tracked in the north-northeast direction during the past 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 14.8°N & Longitude 66.5°E at a distance of about 1,120km south of Karachi.

The Met Office said that maximum sustained surface winds are 130-150 Km/hour gusts 160 Km/hour around the system center.

“The favorable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32°C, low vertical wind shear & upper-level divergence) still supporting the system to intensify further,” the Met department said.

The Met Office said owing to a shift in upper-level steering winds, there is uncertainty in global models’ opinion regarding the track forecast of the cyclone, with some taking it to the Oman-Pakistan western coast and others indicating towards the Indian Gujarat-Pakistan Sindh coast.

PMD’s cyclone warning centre in Karachi is monitoring the system, it added.

Meanwhile, recent weather reports from neighboring India said that Cycloe Biparjoy, located about 820km west of Goa, and likely to further intensify as it moves northwards.

Possible Impacts

Fishermen are advised not to venture in open sea from Monday, 12 June 2023 onwards till the system is over as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied with high tides along coast.
With its probable northeast track, the rain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls & squally winds are expected in Sindh-Makran coast from 13 June night/14 June morning.
Sea conditions are very high/phenomenal around the system center with maximum wave height 25-28 feet.

How did Cyclone Biparjoy get its name?

Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ was suggested by Bangladesh. The word ‘Biparjoy’ holds the meaning of ‘disaster’ or ‘calamity’ in Bengali. The process of naming cyclones follows a rotational system among countries, adhering to specific guidelines that have been established.