Karachi: A deep depression over the northeast Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm named “Shakhti,” lying about 360 kilometres south of Karachi, and is expected to trigger rough weather across Sindh, including the provincial capital, over the next few days, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Friday.
According to the PMD’s Marine Meteorology and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, the storm is likely to move west-northwestwards initially and may further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours before turning west-southwestwards towards the central and northern Arabian Sea.
Under its influence, light to moderate thunderstorms and rainfall are likely today and tomorrow in several districts including Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, and parts of Karachi Division.
The PMD said squally winds of 40–50 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 55km/h, are expected along the Sindh coast. Gale force winds around the storm’s centre are currently estimated at 65–75km/h, gusting up to 85km/h. These are likely to intensify to 100–110km/h, gusting up to 125km/h, by October 4 evening, with sea conditions ranging from rough to very rough, and becoming high to very high over the central north Arabian Sea from October 3–6.
“Fishermen are strongly advised not to venture into the open sea until October 5,” the advisory said, adding that sea conditions near the Sindh coast will remain dangerous due to strong currents and squally winds.
Karachi may experience intermittent showers accompanied by strong winds in parts of the city, with the PMD warning of isolated heavy downpours. Local authorities have been alerted to prepare for urban flooding risks in low-lying areas, as sea intrusion and high tides could combine with rainwater to create drainage challenges.
The Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi is closely monitoring the system and will continue to provide updates. The alert has been shared with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Defence, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), provincial governments, coastal development authorities, port authorities in Karachi and Gwadar, and fisherfolk organisations.
Officials said the situation will be clearer by October 4 evening when the storm’s trajectory becomes more defined. While Karachi is not currently on the cyclone’s direct path, the city and coastal belt of Sindh remain under the threat of high winds, heavy rainfall, and rough seas over the next 72 hours.
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