PMD Issues Alert Amid Cyclone Storm Biparjoy Over East-central Arabian Sea

News Desk

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has advised all the concerned authorities to remain alert amid the formation of Very Severe Cyclone Storm (VSCS) ‘BIPARJOY’ over the east-central Arabian Sea.

According to the alert issued by PMD, VSCS ‘BIPARJOY’ over the east-central Arabian Sea, maintaining its intensity, further tracked north-northeastward during the past 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 16.7 ‘N and Longitude 66.4 ‘E at a distance of about 910 km south of Karachi, 890 km south of Thatta, and 990 km southeast of Ormara.

Maximum sustained surface winds are 120-130 km/hour, with gusts of 150 km/hour around the system centre. The favourable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32 °C, low vertical wind shear, and upper-level divergence) support intensifying the system further.

Owing to the shift in upper-level steering winds, the uncertainty in global models’ final track forecast of VSCS ‘BIPARJOY’ still persists, with some taking it to the Makran-North Oman coast and others indicating it towards the Indian Gujarat-Sindh coast.

Given this uncertainty, the system is predicted to keep tracking further north-northeastward during the next 18-24 hours and then slightly recurve to the north-northwest. PMD’s cyclone warning centre in Karachi is monitoring the system and will issue an update accordingly.

About the possible impacts, the PMD advised the fishermen not to venture into the open sea from June 11 onwards until the system is over, as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough or high, accompanied by high tides along the coast.

With its probable north-northeast track, the rain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls and squally winds is expected on the Sindh-Makran coast from June 13 evening onwards.

Squally (high-intensity) winds may cause damage to loose and vulnerable structures. Sea conditions are phenomenal around the system canter, with a maximum wave height of 25-28 feet.