KARACHI: A cloudburst could occur in the port city when the cyclonic storm Biparjoy hits Sindh’s coast as it was in its sphere of influence, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Monday.
An extraordinary situation has arisen in the province owing to the threat of the cyclonic storm, which is moving near the southeastern coast of the country.
The tropical cyclone of extremely severe intensity is currently present in the Arabian Sea at a distance of 550 kilometres from Karachi and 530km south of Thatta, and will pass somewhere between Keti Bandar, Sindh, and Gujarat, India on June 15.
As per the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), high-intensity gusty winds, rain and subsequent coastal inundation were likely in the areas under the effect of the cyclonic system. Though Karachi is not under direct threat, the weatherman has forecast heavy showers and windstorms in the metropolis from June 13 to 17.
“As the direction of the cyclone was changing, it is not going to directly hit Karachi but strong winds and rain will be witnessed. Up to 60 millimetres rain will be recorded within half an hour [in Karachi] as forecast by the authorities concerned. A cloudburst of the same intensity as seen in 2022 will occur,” the chief minister said in a press conference in Karachi.
Earlier, while speaking on Private Tv channel programme “Naya Pakistan”, Sindh Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said that the Biparjoy storm still had the same intensity and winds up to 180 to 200 km per hour are blowing near its centre.
When asked about the possible impacts on the coastal areas if a cyclonic storm hits, Sarfaraz said that the impacts on weather include strong squally winds and downpours.
However, Karachi as well as Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Sanghar will likely witness heavy rain for three to four days as the cyclonic circulation is strong, he added.
Meanwhile, weather expert Jawad Memon said that Karachi did not have any direct threat from the cyclone. But since the system is robust, its effects will be witnessed in the port city as well, he added.
