Karachi on Cyclone alert

KARACHI:

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a cyclone alert for Karachi in the wake of a ‘potential cyclonic activity’ in Arabian Sea, according to local media sources.

According to PMD, the persistence of clouds in Arabian Sea shows an area of convection with a potential of development of a cyclonic circulation.

A deep low pressure area developing in the sea at a distance of 1600 km south of Pakistan coast may turn into a cyclone in next couple of days, PMD said.

It said Cyclone Warning Centre (Karachi) is monitoring the local and regional meteorological conditions regularly.

PMD said a weather advisory, in case of any cyclonic activity, will be issued in next 24 hrs. All stakeholders and concerned authorities have been advised to be alert about the situation.

The storm will be named Ashubha if it develops into a full-blown cyclone, said the Met Office.

Rain Lashes Sindh

The alert comes a day after many parts of Sindh received showers with gusty winds, and a massive dust storm whipped across Karachi.

The second storm of the summer blasted the metropolis with strong and blinding winds that forced the people to take shelter. The dust enveloped the city and caused traffic jams as drivers slowed down because of poor visibility.

Met Office says the storm may usher in the yearly monsoon season, bringing with it localized heavy rains.

Weather next 24 hrs:

Rain-thundershower associated with gusty wind is expected at isolated places of Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, D.G Khan, Quetta, Zhob, Kalat divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country.

Weather last 24 hrs:

Rain-thundershower with dust-storm occurred at scattered places in Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad divisions), while at isolated paces in upper Punjab, Malakand, Hazara divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Rainfall during last 24 hrs:

Khuzdar=14, Parachinar=8, Lasbela=6, Astore=5, Skardu=5, Garhi Dupatta=4, Rawalakot=4, Murree=3, Pattan=2, Hunza=1, Gupis=1, Kalam=1, Lower Dir=1, Muzaffarabad=1.

Hottest places last 24 hrs:

Dadu, Dalbandin=41°C, Turbut, Lasbella, Panjgur, Chhor, Sibbi=40°C, Mirpurkhas, Bhakker=39°C.