Pakistan's coastline is out of danger from cyclone Luban: Met Office

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday informed that Pakistan’s coastline is out of the danger posed by tropical cyclone Luban, that was formed in the Arabian Sea off Oman.

Further, the weather department notified of the high chances that the tropical cyclone will hit the coasts of Yemen and Oman in the next two days.

Pasni, Gwadar, Ormara and Karachi are safe from the tropical cyclone, it added.

“There will be no storm surge, strong winds or heavy rainfall on Pakistan’s coastal areas,” the Met department said, adding, the only effect of Luban cyclone will be experienced in the form of an overcast sky.

Luban, that started forming last week, has intensified into a cyclonic storm by now, as per weather reports.

A day earlier, the India Meteorological Department said the storm was some 1,040 kilometers (645 miles) east-southeast of Salalah, Oman, moving around 20 kph (12.5 mph).

Weather pundits warn it could develop into a severe cyclonic storm with winds gusting to 135 kph (83 mph). They still aren’t sure where it will make landfall.A northwesterly movement of the weather system will put the Arabian Peninsula at risk, with areas from eastern Yemen through Oman potentially dealing with damaging winds, flooding rainfall and mudslides.

Locations across southern Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates should monitor this developing tropical cyclone closely as well.

Forecasters named the storm Cyclone Luban, or “frankincense” in Arabic. Oman offered the name to authorities, as the aromatic resin used for perfumes and incense is grown on trees in the sultanate.

A tropical cyclone is called a hurricane or a typhoon in other parts of the world.