Storm Biparjoy has moved away from Karachi and is now 370 kilometers south of the city, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
According to the weather forecast, the cyclone over the northeast Arabian Sea has moved north-northeastward in the last six hours, and it now lies near latitude 21.7°N and longitude 66.4°E, about 370km south-southwest of Karachi, 355km south-southwest of Thatta, and 290km south-southwest of Keti Bandar.
The cyclone was earlier located 340 km south of Karachi.
“Maximum sustained surface winds are 150-160 km/h around the system center, with gusts to 180 km/h and sea conditions are phenomenal, with maximum wave height 30 feet,” it added.
The PDM predicts that favorable meteorological variables (29-30°C sea surface temperature, little vertical wind shear, and upper-level divergence) will allow the cyclone to sustain its force throughout the prediction period.
The Biparjoy began to recurve north-northeastward, with packed winds of 100-120km/h gusting to 140km/h, and is forecast to cross between Keti Bandar (southeast Sindh) and the Indian Gujarat coast on June 15 (Thursday) evening. “[The] PMD’s cyclone warning center, Karachi, is continuously monitoring the system and will issue updates accordingly,” it added.
Furthermore, Sherry Rehman, Minister for Climate Change, told the National Assembly today that the government is ensuring effective monitoring of tropical storm Biparjoy, which is heading gradually towards the Pakistani and Indian coastlines.
“All Pakistani tracking institutions, including PMD and Suparco, are working around the clock with international satellites, particularly those from Bangkok, as it intensifies its approach to Pakistan and India’s coastlines,” Rehman said.
The climate minister’s words came during a briefing to the lower chamber on the cyclone’s path and the government’s preventative measures.
