Cyclone Shaheen spares city
People of the city make merry and take advantage of the cooling weather as cyclone Shaheen changes course and heads towards Balochistan and onto Oman. PHOTO: NNI
Karachiites can breathe a sigh of relief as cyclone Shaheen, formed in the northeastern Arabian Sea, has changed its course, thus eliminating any danger to the city.
However, under its effect, moderate to light showers are expected in the city on Saturday (today).
On Friday morning, the distance of the extraordinary sea activity was just 160km from Karachi. According to Karachi Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz, the situation in the city changed drastically compared to the previous alerts as the weather system took a different direction.
For Saturday and Sunday, the city may experience some strong winds. According to Sardar Sarfraz, the weather in the city is expected to remain balanced into early next week. He added that the partially affected sea winds would be fully restored by Sunday.
Intermittent light to moderate showers fell in different parts of the city, while showers and thunderstorms lashed a few areas. There rainfall was 24.4mm in Nazimabad,, 23.8mm in Quaidabad, 22mm at PAF Base Masroor, 21.5 in DHA Phase-II, 21mm at PAF Base Faisal, 17mm in Surjani Town, 14.6mm in North Karachi, 14.2mm at Jamia Rashida in Gulshan-e-Maymar, 13.5mm in Saadi Town, 13.3mm at the old airport, 12.4mm in Orangi Town, 10.7mm on University Road, 10.2mm at Jinnah Terminal, and 5.5mm in Kemari
Read More: Rains hit Karachi as cyclone threat looms
Due to the rain, the temperature in the city dropped by several degrees. The maximum temperature was recorded at 30.5 degrees Celsius.
The cyclone will pass near the coastal strip of Makran. As a result, thundershowers and strong winds are expected in different districts of Balochistan.
According to the fifth alert issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Cyclone Shaheen was formed in the northeastern Arabian Sea. The cyclone is 280km southwest of Karachi, 230km from Ormara and 470km from Gwadar. The cyclone was moving west and southwest towards Oman.
Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin and other districts of rural Sindh are likely to receive showers with strong winds in some areas on Friday night. According to the Met Department, the cyclone will pass near the coastal strip of Makran due to which thundershowers and strong winds are likely in Gwadar, Lasbela, Awaran and Ketch districts till October 3.
Heavy rains are also expected in Khuzdar and other parts of Balochistan till October 3. According to the alert, heavy rains are expected in Lasbela, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat and Jiwani districts. The sea level will also remain high till October 3. Fishermen are advised to refrain from going into the open sea until the given date.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2021.