Local administrations of Sindh’s coastal districts have declared emergency in view of the likely impact of Cyclone Vayu barreling in Arabian Sea. ADC Thatta Arif Kalhwar said that the meteorological department has advised about precautionary measures in view of the impact of the cyclonic activity.
Scattered/isolated dust-thundershowers may occur in rest of Sindh during the period, weather forecast said. The met office has also issued heat wave alert for Karachi for next three days predicting maximum temperature in the port city to 42 degree Celsius. Due to the highest ratio of the humidity in the air the ‘feels like’ temperature could shoot to 47-50°C, forecast warned.
Cyclone Vayu has been upgraded to a “Category One” cyclone with rain and thunderstorm expected in Badin, Thatta and Tharparkar districts of Sindh.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), “Tropical cyclone Vayu in the East Arabian Sea has intensified as ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ and moved further north-northwestward during the last six hours, now lay centered around Lat.18.N and Long.70.0E at 0800 PST at a distance of about 725km southeast of Karachi. The maximum sustained surface winds are 135-145km/hour gusting to 160km/hour around the system centre.”
Thunderstorm and rain expected in three Sindh districts
The PMD further said, “Vayu is likely to continue to move in northerly direction. Under the influence of this system, widespread dust and thundershowers with scattered heavy to very heavy falls are expected in southeast Sindh (Thatta, Badin and Tharparkar districts) on Thursday and Friday. While scattered/isolated dust-thundershowers may occur in rest of Sindh during the period.”
Sea breeze is likely to remain cutoff on Thursday and Friday (June 13-14), which can lead to heat wave-like conditions in coastal areas of Sindh, including Karachi, the PMD added.
The department, however, advised fishermen in Sindh not to venture in the open sea during Wednesday evening to Friday evening, as the sea conditions are likely to be very rough and high.
