KARACHI: In its latest advisory, the Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD) said that the deep depression over India’s Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Asna’.
According to the PMD, this deep depression (very strong low-pressure area) has moved westward during the last 6 hours and lies about 170km south/southeast of Karachi and 88km south of Kati Bandar along the Sindh coast.
Earlier, Met Office predicted that this deep depression may intensify into a Cyclonic Storm this afternoon or evening due to favorable environmental conditions.
PMD added that it would move west/northwestwards parallel to the Pakistan coast but can produce torrential rains in southern districts, including Karachi and along the Makran coast.
PMD Director General Mehar Sahibzada Khan said that the cyclone namely Asna brewed off the Karachi-Gwadar coast which may result in heavy rainfalls after hitting western coastal areas.
“Cyclones usually advance from sea to land but Asna’s advancement is vice versa […] It will intensify into a hurricane whose impacts will be seen in the next week,” he added.
Extremely heavy rain expected
Under this system’s influence, the PMD has predicted widespread extremely heavy rains and thunderstorms in several districts of Sindh as well as those along the Balochistan coast till August 31.
“Widespread rain/wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls are likely in Karachi division, Tharparker, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu & Shaheed Benazirabad districts till August 31,” Met Office advisory said.
Furthermore, the Met Office predicted heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in Balochistan’s Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Keach & Gwadar districts from August 30 to September 1 with occasional gaps.
Heavy rains may create water logging/rain inundation in low-lying areas of the Sindh-Makran coast under the influence of the potential cyclonic storm.
Following the cyclonic storm advisory, authorities in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan have banned fishermen from venturing into the sea til September 1. Swimming, bathing, diving, and wading in the sea/beaches and coastal areas of Karachi Division has been banned from Aug 29 till Aug 31 (Saturday).
The decision came after Met Dept added that due to the cyclonic activities, the sea conditions are likely to remain rough/very rough with squally winds 50-60 Km/hour gusting 70 km/hour.
