Cyclone Ashobaa 500km away from Karachi; rain & gale likely in coastal areas of Sindh, Balochistan

KARACHI (92 News) – The tropical cyclone (Ashobaa) over the central Arabian Sea has slightly tracked further north-westward in last six hours at a speed of 10 km/hour and now lies centred around Latitude 20.5N and Longitude 64.5E about 500 km south-southwest of Karachi and 600 km east-southeast of Masqat (Oman). According to the Met Office, the cyclone is likely to intensify further and keep moving north-westward in next 24 hours. The sea conditions along Sindh-Makran coast are likely to remain rough to very rough associated with strong winds particularly along Makran coast till Thursday evening/night. Maximum tide height is expected 12-15 ft. The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) Cyclone Warning Centre has warned the fishermen not to venture in open sea till Thursday in Sindh and till Friday in Balochistan. Under the influence of this system, isolated rain/thundershowers of moderate intensity (15-25 mm) accompanied with winds of 30-40 km/hr are expected in Thatta, Badin and Sujawal districts of Sindh during next 24 hours and scattered rain/thundershowers with isolated heavy falls with chances of flash floods in southwest Balochistan during next 36/48 hours. All stakeholders and authorities concerned are advised to keep themselves abreast about weather advisories of PMD during next two days to cope with the situation.