PMD Issues Warning Of Potential Biparjoy Formation Over East-Central Arabian Sea

News Desk

Islamabad: In light of the potential for Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) ‘BIPARJOY’ formation over the East-central Arabian Sea, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has urged the relevant authorities to exercise caution.

BIPARJOY is maintaining its intensity further tracked north-eastward during past 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 15.5°N and Longitude 66.3°E at a distance of about 1040km south of Karachi, 1020km south of Thatta and 1110km southeast of Ormara.

Maximum sustained surface winds are 120-130 Km/hour gusts 150 Km/hour around the system center. The favorable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32°C, low vertical wind shear & upper-level divergence) still support the system to intensify further.

Owing to the shift in upper-level steering winds, the uncertainty in global models forecast of VSCS BIPARJOY track still persists with some taking it to the Oman-Pakistan Makran coast and others indicating towards the Indian Gujarat-Pakistan Sindh coast. Considering this uncertainty, the system is likely to keep tracking further north/north-eastward during the next 36/48 hours. PMD’s cyclone warning center, Karachi is monitoring the system and will issue an update accordingly.

About the possible impacts, fishermen are advised not to venture in the open sea from 12 June onwards till the system is over as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied by high tides along the coast.

With its probable north-northeast track, the rain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls and squally winds are expected in the Sindh-Makran coast from 13 June night/14 June morning. Moreover, squally (high-intensity) winds may cause damage to loose & vulnerable structures.