Heatwave warning issued for Karachi, Cyclone Vayu to bring rain to Sindh
June 13, 2019
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (MET) has issued a heatwave warning for Karachi in the wake of Cyclone Vayu.
According to the MET office, under the influence of Cyclone Vayu widespread dust/thunder-showers with scattered heavy to very heavy falls expected in southeast Sindh (Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar) on Thursday and Friday. Scattered/isolated dust-thundershowers may occur in the rest of Sindh during this period.
The sea breeze is likely to remain cut off on Thursday and Friday which could lead to heatwave like conditions in the coastal area of Sindh including Karachi.
Temperatures in Karachi over a three-day period will range from 38°C to 42°C.
The MET office has advised fishermen to remain onshore till Friday evening as sea conditions are likely to be very rough.
Cyclone Vayu in Arabian Sea
A day earlier, Cyclone Vayu was upgraded to a tropical cyclone, worsening the heatwave in Karachi and pushing the mercury forecast to hit 39°C-42°C.
Cyclone Vavyu which was heading towards western India has veered away, although costal areas were still expected to be hit by winds gusting up to 160 kilometres (110 miles) per hour.
Vayu, classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, moved north-northwestwards in the night over the Arabian Sea, and was around 110 kilometres from the coast of Gujarat state.
It was "very likely" to keep moving in the same direction, but still skirt the coast with winds of between 135-145 kph and gusts of 160 kph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Gujarat authorities were, meanwhile, trying to evacuate close to 300,000 people living in coastal areas.
On the other hand, there is no threat imminent from Cyclone Vayu for Karachi's coast for the time being; however, the metropolis' maritime boundary may experience flooding and waves can go as high as 12 feet.
The latest weather system was also expected to draw moisture away from much-needed annual monsoon rains.
