The Meteorological Department has issued its fourth cyclone alert, warning of a developing cyclone in the Northeast Arabian Sea. The storm is currently positioned approximately 170 km south and southeast of Karachi, with expectations to move initially towards the west and northwest.
The cyclone’s impact is likely to bring heavy rainfall to various regions, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, and Sajawal. In addition, hailstorms—characterized by tiny and sometimes large balls of ice falling like rain—are anticipated in areas such as Tando Muhammad Khan, TandoAllahyar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpur Khas, and Sanghar.
The alert advises fishermen to avoid venturing into the open sea until today (August 31) due to the hazardous conditions. Earlier on Friday, Karachi experienced the severe effects of a deep depression in the Arabian Sea, with strong winds causing trees to topple in various locations.
Tragically, a woman lost her life when a tree fell near Stadium Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. The woman’s identity has not yet been confirmed. In other incidents, strong winds led to trees falling in Gulistan-e-Johar Block 10 and Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 17, the latter resulting in power outages and traffic disruptions due to the trees damaging electric wires.
Chief Meteorologist SardarSarfaraz noted that while the cyclone is not expected to make direct landfall in Karachi or along the Sindh coastline, its effects are likely to result in heavy rainfall across the province. The storm is currently moving at a speed of 60 to 70 km per hour, approximately 200 kilometers from Karachi.
