Cyclone Vayu: Karachi to face heat wave like conditions today

KARACHI: A heat wave on Thursday is expected to hit Karachi in the wake of likely landfall of tropical cyclone Vayu at India’s Gujarat coast, ARY News reported.

Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that mercury can soar up to 40-42 degree Celsius in the port city today.

The temperature of the city was recorded at 31 degree centigrade at 8 in the morning, while the humidity was recorded at 76 per cent.

Due to the highest ratio of the humidity in the air the ‘feels like’ temperature could shoot to 47-50°C.

The weather experts ruled out any repeat of the conditions of June 2015 when a similar low-pressure area had resulted into killing hundreds of people in Karachi and other parts of Sindh.

The met office has advised concerned authorities of Sindh province to remain alert in coming days with regard to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Vayu.

Tropical Cyclone Vayu

The storm that began to show signs of developing past weekend has strengthened with current wind speeds of 102 kilometres per hour, gusting to 130 km/h, making it equivalent to a tropical storm.

According to media reports currently Vayu is 480km southwest of Mumbai and moving to the north.

The warm waters of the Arabian Sea, which are averaging 30 degrees Celsius, will continue to allow Vayu to gradually strengthen before making possible landfall at Gujarat coast of India. Winds could strengthen to as high as 165 km/h with stronger gusts, potentially making the cyclone the equivalent strength of a Category 2 hurricane, experts said.

Cyclone Vayu, is expected to peak on Thursday (13 June), with wind speeds of over 135 kmph over waters of the Arabian sea.

Under the influence of Cyclone Vayu, widespread Dust/Thunder-showers with isolated heavy falls are expected in southeast districts of Sindh (Thatta, Badin and Tharparker districts) on Thursday/Friday, met office forecast said. Scattered/isolated Dust-thundershowers may occur in rest of Sindh during the period, it added.