Cyclone Shakti intensifies off Karachi coast

Expected to shift direction within 24 hours, weaken as it turns east-northeast

KARACHI:

Cyclone Shakti, currently active in the northeastern Arabian Sea, has gained further strength and is now positioned approximately 390 kilometres south-southwest of Karachi, according to the Tropical Cyclone Centre's latest alert issued Saturday morning.

The system has been steadily moving westward over the past 12 hours and intensified due to favourable weather conditions in the region. It is expected to continue moving west-southwest until October 5, before curving northwest toward the central-northern Arabian Sea. Within the following 24 hours, it is forecast to change direction again — this time turning east-northeast — while gradually weakening.

As the storm nears, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of strong winds reaching up to 55 kilometres per hour along the Sindh coastline, with particularly rough and unsafe sea conditions expected. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into deep waters until at least Sunday.

By the evening of Saturday, wind speeds near the cyclone's centre could intensify further — from 110 to 125 kilometres per hour. Authorities expect very high sea waves to develop in the northern Arabian Sea as a result.

The Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi is continuing to monitor the storm's trajectory and intensity.