KARACHI:The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) “BIPARJOY” over northeast Arabian Sea has moved further northeastward and now lies near Latitude 22.8°N and Longitude 67.9°E at a distance of about 245km south of Karachi, 210km south Thatta and 145km south of Keti Bandar, according to a PMD report at 6:28pm on Thursday. According to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman statement on Twitter, the cyclone has slowed down but the “core remains intense, adding it would not make landfall before nightfall now.
According to a PMDM, maximum sustained surface winds are 120-140 Km/hour gusts 150 Km/hour around the system center and sea conditions being rough/phenomenal around the system center with maximum wave height 25 feet. Moving northeastward, the VSCS “BIPARJOY” is likely to cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and Indian Gujarat during next 2-6 hours as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) with packing winds of 100-120 Km/hour gusting 140 km/hour. PMD’s cyclone warning center, Karachi is continuously monitoring the system and will issue update accordingly.
Possible Impacts:
Under its influence: Widespread rain-thunderstorm with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls accompanied with squally winds of 100-120Km/hour gusting 140km/hour likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from today to 17 June.
Dust/thunderstorm-rain with a few heavy falls and accompanied with squally winds of 40-60 Km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts on today and tomorrow. Dust/thunderstorm-rain with isolated heavy falls likely in Hub, Lasbella and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan today and tomorrow. Squally (high intensity) winds may cause damage to loose and vulnerable structures (Kutcha houses) including solar panels etc. Storm surge of 3-4 meters (10-12 feet) expected at the land falling point (Keti Bandar and around) which can inundate the low-lying settlements.
Sea conditions along Sindh coast may get very rough/ high (2-2.5 meter) and rough/ very rough (2 meter) along Balochistan coast (Sonmiani, Hub, Kund Malir. Ormara and surroundings). Fishermen have been advised not to venture in open sea till the system is over by 17 June. All concerned authorities were also particularly advised to remain ‘ALERT’ during the forecast period.
