PMD issues fresh alert as Cyclone Shakti shifts track

News Desk

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that the severe cyclonic storm “SHAKTI” continues to move west-southwestwards over the northwest Arabian Sea, maintaining its intensity and posing risks of rough sea conditions along Pakistan’s coastal belt.

In its latest advisory, the PMD reported that the storm is currently centered near Latitude 21.0°N and Longitude 61.8°E, about 700 kilometers southwest of Karachi. The system is expected to maintain its current trajectory until October 6, before likely recurving eastwards over the west-central and northeast Arabian Sea within the next 24 hours, gradually losing strength.

While SHAKTI is not expected to make landfall along Pakistan’s coast, the PMD warned that rough to very rough sea conditions will persist, accompanied by squally winds between 40–50 km/h, gusting up to 55 km/h along Sindh’s coastline.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/flood-alert-pdma-warns-of-more-rain-rising-river-flows/

Under the cyclone’s outer influence, isolated light rain is expected in some coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan, offering brief relief from the dry weather.

Fishermen have been strictly advised to avoid venturing into deep waters until October 5, as gale-force winds around the cyclone’s center may reach 110–120 km/h, with gusts up to 135 km/h this afternoon.

The wind intensity is forecast to decrease to 80–90 km/h later in the day and further drop to 50–60 km/h over the next 12 to 24 hours.

Sea conditions will remain very rough to high across the northwest and west-central Arabian Sea over the next 36 hours, and high to very high from the night of October 5 to October 7, according to the PMD.

The Cyclone Warning Center, Karachi, continues to monitor the system closely and will issue updates as necessary. Coastal residents and authorities have been urged to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and avoid unnecessary travel near the shorelines.