Karachi receives moderate to heavy showers as low-pressure moves toward Arabian Sea, cyclone fears grow

• Heavy showers, strong winds lash parts of Karachi.

• Several areas record over 20mm rain, roads partially flooded.
• PMD warns of widespread rain in Karachi, Hyderabad, other districts
  

Intermittent heavy showers and strong winds battered Karachi on Tuesday, partially flooding roads and cooling the city’s sweltering weather, as a well-marked low-pressure system over India’s Gujarat coast edged closer to the Arabian Sea, raising the risk of a tropical cyclone later this week.

Moderate to heavy rain was recorded in several neighbourhoods including, Liaquatabad, Federal B Area, Saddar, II Chundrigar Road, Korangi and Shahrah-e-Faisal, while winds of up to 45 kilometres per hour were observed in different parts of the city.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), DHA Phase VII recorded 26.8mm of rainfall by Tuesday evening, while PAF Faisal Base received 29mm. The old airport area measured 33.7mm, Jinnah Terminal 20.8mm, Korangi 20.5mm, and Gulshan-e-Hadeed 25mm.

Other stations reported lower but significant figures, including Met Office University Road 8.4mm, Keamari 7.5mm, Bahria Town 20.5mm, Gulshan-e-Maymar trace, and Nazimabad 1.4mm. In parts of DHA and Clifton, water accumulated on roads, causing partial urban flooding and traffic disruptions.

The PMD said moist currents from the Arabian Sea are driving widespread rain and thunderstorms across southeastern Sindh, affecting Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and adjoining districts from September 29 until October 2. Isolated heavy falls are expected in Tharparkar, Umerkot and Mirpurkhas.

According to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi, the low-pressure system was lying over Saurashtra, Gujarat, around 340 kilometres southeast of Karachi on Tuesday morning.

It is likely to move west-southwest and emerge into the Arabian Sea by late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Meteorologists said favourable conditions, including warm sea surface temperatures and upper-level divergence could cause it to intensify into a depression and possibly develop into a cyclone in the coming days.

Officials clarified that there is no immediate threat to Pakistan’s coastal belt. However, they warned that the sea will remain rough to very rough with squally winds between 45 and 55 kilometres per hour. Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into deep waters until October 2.

Provincial disaster management authorities have instructed Deputy Commissioners and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) across Sindh to stay on round-the-clock alert and prepare mitigation measures in case of emergencies.

The Met Office forecast cloudy weather in Karachi over the next 24 hours, with chances of light to moderate rain and drizzle at scattered places. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius, while humidity stands at around 65%. Winds are expected to continue from the southeast.

Authorities also warned that strong winds and lightning could damage weak structures, power poles, billboards and solar panels in vulnerable areas. Meanwhile, the Kotri Barrage was reported in medium-level flood on Tuesday morning with an inflow of 335,567 cusecs, while Guddu and Sukkur barrages recorded normal flows.

Earlier this month, Karachi endured heavy rains from September 8 to 10 that submerged large swathes of the metropolis, left rivers overflowing and forced hundreds of residents to remain stranded for hours. Another spell of drizzle followed on September 16. Tuesday’s fresh showers again provided relief from the lingering heat but revived concerns of further flooding if the system over the Arabian Sea strengthens into a cyclone in the days ahead.

KE urges adherence to safety protocol

K-Electric (KE) urges citizens to prioritise safety and remain vigilant, particularly in areas where waterlogging becomes an issue.

In a statement, the KE said its teams remained on alert to monitor the situation and address any issues. The network remained stable and at the peak of the downpour, less than 175 of KE's 2,100-plus feeders saw a temporary outage mainly due to safety reasons, it added.

These feeders were also quickly restored as rain stopped and safety clearances were received from the field teams, said the KE spokesperson.

“Our foremost priority remains public and our staff's safety,” he added.