More torrential rains to hit Karachi in wake of Cyclone Gulab
The city's streets were flooded on Thursday after two days of sporadic rain. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The extended monsoon season has meant that the city, and many other parts of the province, have been severely affected by downpours that have continued since August.
More torrential rains are expected in districts of rural Sindh and Karachi and the coastal areas of Makran.
This is mainly due to the formation of a powerful low air pressure system in North-eastern Arabian Sea.
On Tuesday, the city recorded a temperature of 39.6 degrees Celsius.
According to a weather advisory issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department's (PMD) Early Warning Centre, low air pressure in the northern Arabian Sea is likely to lead to torrential downpours in Sindh and the coastal areas of Makran.
The remaining part of the cyclonic storm, dubbed Gulab, is present over central India in the form of low air pressure which is moving towards Indian Gujarat.
Severe weather conditions in the northeastern Arabian Sea may intensify again till 30 September. This may bring extensive rains in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin starting from today till October 2.
The heavy downpour may cause urban flooding in Karachi while Thatta, Hyderabad and Dadu would also be at risk of urban flooding.
Urban flooding may also occur in Lasbela, Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat and Jiwani districts due to torrential downpours.
Read More: PMD forecasts four-day heat wave beginning today
According to the PMD, rains are also expected in Umerkot district of rural Sindh, especially across Thar, Umerkot, Sanghar and other districts.
Extensive rains are also expected in different districts of Balochistan between September 30 and October 3.
The PMD further predicts that sea levels may rise from September 30 to October.
During this period, fishermen should avoid going into the open sea for fishing, it advised. In the afternoon, light showers fell in different parts of the city including Saddar, Clifton, Burns Road, Ayesha Manzil, Liaquatabad, Sharae Faisal, Liaquatabad, Karachi Airport, Federal B Area and Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2021.