Cyclone Biparjoy: Will Karachi receive rain today?

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in Karachi on Tuesday evening as Cyclone Biparjoy moved closer to Pakistan’s coast, ARY News reported.

According to the PMD, the maximum temperature in Karachi might touch 38 to 40 degrees today with chances of heavy showers in some areas of the metropolis.

As per the latest Met Office advisory, the cyclonic storm now lies near Latitude 20.7°N and Longitude 67.1°E at a distance of about 470km south of Karachi and 460km south of Thatta.

Maximum sustained surface winds are 140-150 Km/hour gusts 170 Km/hour around the system center and sea conditions are very rough around the system center with maximum wave height 30 feet.

Under the existing upper-level steering winds, Cyclone Biparjoy is most likely to track further Northward until 14 June morning, then recurve Northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and Indian Gujarat coast on 15 June afternoon/evening with packing winds of 100-120Km/hour.

Possible impacts

With its probable approach to the southeast Sindh coast, widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls accompanied by squally (high intensity) winds of 80-100Km/hour gusting 120km/hour likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from today to 17 June.

Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few heavy falls and accompanied squally winds of 60-80 Km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts from 14 June (tomorrow) to 16 June.

High-intensity winds may cause damage to vulnerable structures, katcha houses, solar panels, billboards etc.

Storm surge of 3-3.5 meters (8-12 feet) expected at the land falling point (Keti Bandar and around), which can inundate the low-lying settlements.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture in open sea till the cyclonic system is over by 17 June, as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough accompanied with high tides along the coast.