Cyclone Nilofar now classified as 'very severe'

KARACHI: With winds estimated up to 105mph, Cyclone Nilofar has gained immense strength in the Arabian Ocean, about 750 miles south- southwest of Karachi, The Weather Channel reported.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has now changed the classification of the cyclone from ‘severe’ to ‘very severe’.

The cyclone is now 1120km far from southwest of Karachi and 1010km south of Gwadar, and is likely to move northward in the next 24 hours.

The strength of the cyclone has intensified and is now said to be equivalent to that of a hurricane. This is evident from the wind speed which, initially 90-100 Knots, is gusting up to 110 Knots.

Continuing its journey, the cyclone would move in a northwest direction today with a speed of 6km/hour and its arrival in the adjoining coastal areas of lower Sindh and Indian Gujrat is expected on Wednesday.

The lower Sindh region including Karachi and coastal areas of Balochistan should expect to receive widespread rain and heavy showers. Heavy rain and showers will be accompanied by strong gusty winds, between Wednesday and Friday.

Also, between Wednesday and Friday, the Pakistan coast will experience very rough sea conditions.

Sindh and Balochistan fishermen have been advised to abstain from venturing out into open seas from Wednesday onward. Those already in open sea are advised to return to coastal areas before Wednesday.

Current conditions



SOURCE: THE WEATHER CHANNEL

What is a tropical cyclone?

According to The Weather Channel, a hurricane can be defined as a tropical cyclone with sustained winds reaching speeds of 74mph or higher. The "hurricane" status is only reached once the cyclone has strengthened over a period of days or weeks.



SOURCE: THE WEATHER CHANNEL

This process begins in the warm, moist air over the waters of the region known as the tropics, which includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the eastern North Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the International Dateline and north of the equator. Tropical depressions, tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons are all tropical cyclones, and all may develop in this region.

Tropical cyclones are low pressure systems with wind circulation that develops over the tropics. It must pass through four distinct stages, namely: tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm and finally becoming a hurricane.

Ten fishing trawlers in deep sea of Gaddani missing

At least ten fishing trawlers failed to report at Gaddani in Lasbela district on Tuesday as officials sounded a warning ahead of Cyclone Nilofar which is likely to hit the coast of Balochistan and Sindh.

“We had contacted at least 60 trawlers which went into deep sea for fishing. They got back to shore. However, we could not reach ten other trawlers which went in deep sea,” said Pervez Ahmed of the Fisher Forum Daam in Hub.

He said that the trawlers went in to deep sea on Thursday while the alerts for tropical cyclone were issued on Saturday. “The trawlers go in deep sea and stay there for 15 to 16 days for fishing,” Ahmed added.

The fishermen have informed the Coast Guards and Pakistan Navy Officials regarding the missing trawlers. There could be dozens of people in each trawler.

According to fishermen in Gwadar, most of the fishing boats had returned from deep sea off the Gwadar coast while some are on their way to get back near the shore.

“Majority of the fishing boats are anchored near the shore,” said a fisherman over the phone.

The trawlers were anchored in open sea due to the lack of space near the shore.

Angry fishermen lodged complaints that if they were told in due time, then they would have refrained from going into deep sea for fishing.