Heavy rainfall expected in Karachi till 15 August
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Saturday that low pressure in the Arabian Sea escalated into a depression and may cause heavy rains in the port city till 15 August.
It is expected that the sea will remain quite turbulent. As a result, it indicated that sea conditions would continue to be very difficult over the next two days and instructed the fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan not to venture into the open sea until tomorrow evening.
It stressed the risks of urban flooding in low-lying areas while urging all relevant authorities to remain vigilant.
Another weather system is due to take effect on August 16, which could also trigger heavy rains that would last till August 19.
The PMD, in its Alert-III, indicated that the depression (area of intense low pressure) over the North Oman Sea has shifted in a west-southwest direction over the past 12 hours and is now situated at a distance of approximately 450km south-west of Karachi.
The Met Office stated that the system is likely to move further west until tonight, then retreat to the northeast and gradually weaken.
Maximum sustained surface winds are 45 km/h with gusts to 55 km/h around the center of the system.
“At present, none of Pakistan’s coastal areas are at risk from this weather system,” the Met Office said, noting that the PMD Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Karachi is closely monitoring the system and updates will be released accordingly.