By Hasnain Ali
Parts of Sindh and Balochistan were expected to see light to moderate rain on Saturday as cyclonic storm Shakhti intensified over the Arabian Sea, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said.
The PMD stated that the storm had moved westward in the past 12 hours and strengthened into a “severe cyclonic storm.” Officials said it is likely to continue west-southwest, reaching the northwest and central north Arabian Sea by October 5. It will then change direction, moving east-northeast over the next 24 hours while gradually weakening.
Under the storm’s influence, Sindh’s Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, and Jamshoro districts, along with Balochistan’s Hub, Lasbela, Awaran, and Kech districts, were expected to see rain and thunderstorms. Some areas in Karachi Division could also experience isolated showers.
The PMD warned that sea conditions would remain “rough to very rough,” with squally winds reaching 55 kilometres per hour near the Sindh coast. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the deep sea until Sunday.
Sea conditions are expected to stay very rough to high, and very high in the central North and North Arabian Sea over the next 36 hours. Around the storm’s centre, conditions are likely to remain very rough to high.
The PMD’s Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi is closely monitoring the storm and will provide updates as the situation develops. Satellite images and radar from Zoom Earth showed Shakhti moving at 100 km/h as of 11 am. According to former chief meteorologist Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, regional cyclones are named based on a list prepared by a 13-country panel.
A separate alert for Karachi Division said the storm was about 390 km south-southwest of the city and moving west-southward. Residents were advised that isolated drizzle could occur, while most parts of the province would remain hot and dry.
For Saturday, the weather is expected to be partly cloudy and humid with chances of isolated drizzle. Sunday will see partly cloudy and humid conditions, while Monday is predicted to be mostly sunny and humid.
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