PMD on cyclone alert after low pressure forms in sea

A low-pressure weather system has formed over the east-central Arabian Sea around 1,075 kilometres southeast of Karachi that could intensify into a deep depression or even a cyclonic storm by the weekend, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Thursday.

The PMD said the weather system was located southeast of Karachi and headed northwards.

It added that at present there was no threat to Pakistan's coastal areas, but the system was being closely monitored by the Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC).

Meteorologists said that warm sea surface temperatures were fuelling the system's growth.

It might evolve into a depression within the next 36 hours and if favourable conditions persisted, it could strengthen further into a deep depression or even a cyclonic storm by May 24 or 25, they added.