Cyclone Nilofar decreases in intensity

KARACHI: The very severe tropical cyclone Nilofar in the Arabian Sea is weakening gradually and is about 600 km in southwest of Karachi and 580 km southeast of Gawadar coast.

According to the met department, the cyclone would continue to move north-eastward (towards adjoining coastal areas of Lower Sindh and Indian Gujrat) with a speed of 14 km/hour in next 24 hours.

At present, the estimated central pressure of cyclone is 998 hpa and the average sustained wind speed around is 70-80 Knots gusting up to 90 Knots. The cyclone is likely to cross the adjoining coastal areas of Lower Sindh and Indian Gujrat as a depression with a wind speed of 70-80 km/hour gusting up to 100 km/hour on Friday evening/night.

Under the influences of this cyclone, widespread rain and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls accompanied by strong gusty winds are expected in Lower Sindh on Thursday and Friday. The sea conditions along Pakistan coast are likely to remain rough on Thursday and Friday, therefore, the fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan have been advised not to venture in the sea during the next two days.

The eye of the cyclone is expected to pass 250 kilometers from Karachi, Chief Meteorologist Touseef Alam said.

Alam added that the storm’s outer waves would hit Pakistan brining strong winds, high tides and winds to the southern areas of the country, especially the drought hit-districts of Sindh.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has told district officials to evacuate villages along the coast and all beachside restaurants have been closed.

Emergency Declared in Coastal Areas

Emergency has been declared in Karachi, Thatta, Badijn, Sajawal and Tharparkar. The Sindh government has announced that offices and educational institutions will remain closed in these districts on Friday.

Arrangements have also been finalised to emergency evacuation of people living in coastal areas if required.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said emergency centres have been set up form immediate evacuation and relocation of people in coastal areas.

“The Sindh government will bear the cost of transportation, shelter, food, and other emergency steps for fishermen and other deserving communities in the coastal belt of the province in case of an emergency evacuation and relocation to safer areas in the coming few days,” he said.

40-50mm Rain Expected in Karachi

The Met Department has predicted between 40mm and 50mm of rain in Karachi as Cyclone Nilofar nears.

Heavy rains are expected to lash the districts of Badin and Thatta too. The other districts of the province, however, will receive light rains.

Scattered thunderstorms have been forecast in Gwadar and other major stations of the Makran coast.

Storm Precautionary Measures