A cyclonic storm named Shakti has formed in the Northeast Arabian Sea, about 360 kilometers south of Karachi, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed.
The storm, which intensified from a depression over the past six hours, is expected to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours, according to PMD’s Cyclone Warning Center.
Shakti is moving west-northwest and may shift towards the west-southwest, likely heading into the central north Arabian Sea in the coming days.
The cyclone’s influence is expected to bring light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms across Sindh.
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Districts likely to be affected include Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Jamshoro, and parts of Karachi Division. Rainfall may also extend to Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, and Kech.
Sea conditions have turned rough to very rough, with squally winds of 40–50 km/h gusting up to 55 km/h along the Sindh coast.
Fishermen have been strongly warned not to venture into the sea until October 5.
Near the cyclone’s center, gale-force winds of 65–75 km/h, gusting to 85 km/h, are expected by October 4. From October 3 to 6, winds may intensify further to 100–110 km/h with gusts up to 125 km/h, making sea travel extremely dangerous.
The PMD’s Cyclone Warning Center in Karachi has confirmed that it is monitoring the storm 24/7 and will issue timely updates as needed.
Coastal residents and authorities have been urged to stay alert and adopt precautionary measures to reduce risks of heavy rain, strong winds, and potential flooding.
Stay tuned to the Times of Karachi’s weather page for further updates and developments.
