Safe seas: Met office withdraws cyclone warning

KARACHI:

The meteorological department has withdrawn its warning for Cyclone Ashobaa, leaving fishermen free to go out to sea and continue their activities until the issuance of the next warning.

"There are some low-pressure winds to the south of Pakistan but they have not yet been converted into a cyclone," said Naeem Shah, the chief meteorologist of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, adding that the winds were still 1,575 kilometres away from Karachi's coastal belt.

He explained that some areas in the Arabian Sea were showing the development of intense convection of low-pressure winds but they were still too far away to be considered for a cyclone warning.

"It will take nearly two days to see if the cyclone is forming and moving towards Karachi," said Shah. "We are monitoring the local and regional meteorological conditions and the weather advisory will issue a warning in case of any cyclonic development."

There is currently no threat of cyclone to any of Pakistan's coastal areas. "No rain is predicted in Karachi this week but it can be expected when the wind changes its direction," said the chief meteorologist.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.