Live Karachi weather updates: Cyclone Shaheen to recurve to Oman after tomorrow evening

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued another advisory — the final alert – regarding tropical storm "Shaheen", stating that it will likely move west-northwestwards by tomorrow evening after which it is likely to recurve southwestward and head to Muscat, Oman.

In the advisory issued at 10:55pm on Friday night, PMD said Shaheen has "moved west-northwestward during the last six hours with a speed of 15km/hr, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, and now lies centred near latitude 23.2N and longitude 63.6E, at a distance of about 400km southwest of Karachi, 240km from Ormara and 250km southeast of Gwadar". 

PMD said that Shaheen's estimated maximum sustained surface wind is 90- 110km/hr and sea conditions are rough to very rough around the system centre. 

"The system is likely to move west-northwestwards till tomorrow evening and then recurve southwestward towards Muscat, Oman coast," it added.

Very heavy rainfall in Balochistan, scattered thunderstorms in Sindh

Widespread rain-wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy rainfall is likely in Balochistan's Gwadar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, Khuzdar, Kalat and Panjgur districts till the night of Sunday, October 3.

Scattered rain-wind/thunderstorms are expected in Sindh's Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Dadu and Jamshoro, Thaparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan (TMK), Tando Allayar (TAY), Shaheed Benazirabad, Nosheroferoz, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Shikarpur districts till tomorrow.

Possible impacts

• Sea conditions would remain rough/very rough with a high surge at times till Sunday, October 3.
• Fishermen are advised not to venture in the sea till Sunday, October 3.
• Heavy rains may generate urban flooding in Lasbela, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat and Jiwani.
• Windstorms may cause damages to vulnerable structures.

The PMD Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi is closely monitoring the system and updates will be issued accordingly.

All concerned authorities of Balochistan are requested to remain alert during the forecast period and stay abreast of the situation through the PMD website. 

LIVE UPDATES

10:50pm — Most rain recorded in Karachi's Gulshan-e-Hadeed

The Met Office has released figures for the amount of rain recorded in various Karachi neighbourhoods, according to which the most — 39mm — fell in Gulshan-e-Hadeed.

Surjani saw 27.4mm of rain, while DHA Phase 2 recorded 21.5mm, North Karachi 26.8mm, Orangi Town 25mm, Quaidabad 26.3mm, Nazimabad 26.2mm, PAF Base Masoor 26mm, Faisal Base 22mm, Keamari 20mm, Old Airport 17.5mm, Jinnah Terminal 10.2mm, University Road 12.2mm, Saadi Town 13.5mm, and Gulshan-e-Maymar 14.3mm.

10:40pm — All of Gwadar's private schools to remain closed tomorrow

All of Gwadar's private schools will remain closed tomorrow, the president of the private schools association has said.

Abdul Latif Shah said that the decision was taken in view of the dangers posed by the cyclone.

10:01pm — PDMA says situation in Gwadar, Lasbela 'normal so far'

With Balochistan expected to bear the brunt of cyclone Shaheen, which is now headed towards Oman, the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority has issued a statement saying the situation in Gwadar and Lasbela is "normal so far".

According to Director General Naseer Nasir, light rainfall was witnessed in Lasbela and Dera Bugti.

He did, however, say that high tides were witnessed in the Gwadar Sea.

Nasir said that arrangements have been made for the cyclone, with food supplies, tents and other material sent to both districts.

09:23pm — Person dies of electrocution in Orangi Town

A person is said by rescue officials to have died due to an electric shock near Orangi Town's Ghosia Chowk.

8:45pm — Rescue teams on 'high alert' in DHA

As various areas of Karachi continue to receive intermittent rainfall, a statement by the Defence Housing Authority has said that the rain management system has been put on "high alert".

"Relief and rescue teams have been put on high alert," the statement added.

DHA said that de-watering teams are available in various DHA localities and work is being carried out in affected areas.

8:20pm — Several roads inundated with rainwater

The stretch of road from KDA Chowrangi to Five Star is flooded with rainwater.

Yet, there is no sign of any work to drain it out, and no machines available.

Meanwhile, around Hyderi, man holes began to choke and sewerage water started to seep into the streets, with trash floating mixed with rainwater.

To compound the problem, some of the trash was seen flowing back into some drains.

Despite the public holiday announced by Sindh government, Hyderi's markets were bustling with activity as usual, and the flow of traffic in the area suffered due to the rainwater accumulation.

Several cars stopped working when they were forced to pass through deep water, which further added to the commuters' woes. 

The Millenium Flyover, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Moti Mahal and Nagan Chowrangi localities were also flooded with rainwater. 

7:08pm — Video shows heavy downpour in Saddar

6:30pm — Commuters on Rashid Minhas Road forced to wait the rain out

Commuters, especially motorcyclists, on Karachi's Rashid Minhas Road have been seen waiting on the side of the road, to let the heavy downpour subside, before they continue on their way.

5:30pm — Downpour in North Nazimabad

It has begun to rain significantly in North Nazimabad.

5:22pm — Intermittent rain in various Karachi areas

Various areas of Karachi, including Defence, Qayyumabad, PECHS, Ibrahim Hyderi, Sindh Assembly, I I Chundrigar, Tower, and Kharadar are experiencing intermittent rainfall.

3:15pm — Power supply stable: KE

The power supply in the metropolis is stable and the situation is being monitored, according to a K-Electric spokesperson.

2:42pm — 'All clear'

Minister for Labour Saeed Ghani, who was tasked to monitor the rain situation in District East, has shared several videos on his social media page saying the roads in the area are clear. 

2:00pm — Parts of Karachi receive rain

Several areas of the metropolis including Clifton, Saddar, MA Jinnah Road, Gulistan-e-Jauher and Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Baldia Town and Malir received rain amid cloudy weather due to cyclone “Shaheen,” Geo News reported.

12:45pm — PMD names cyclone

The Met Office in its 5th advisory named the cyclonic storm “Shaheen" and shared that it has moved away from Sindh’s coast belt.

11:34am — Karachi, lower Sindh protected from cyclone: Met dept official

Different areas of Karachi and lower Sindh are safe from the effects of the cyclone, Met Office Director Sardar Sarfaraz has said in his latest update.

He said the threat of torrential rains and strong winds has been averted and only light to moderate rain is expected in Karachi till tomorrow.

There may, however, be heavy rain in some areas, he said, adding that strong winds will continue to blow.

The deep depression in the Arabian Sea is likely to become a cyclone, he said, sharing that the cyclone is heading west and northwest.

The storm will pass near the coast of Balochistan and move towards Oman and Iran, the Met official said, adding that if its inclination is more towards northwest, strong winds and heavy rains are likely in Balochistan.

10:58am — Cloudy weather in Keti Bandar, intermittent rain in Lasbela, rainwater outside Karachi courts 

In Thatta, cloudy weather and intermittent drizzle in coastal areas, including Keti Bandar, was reported Friday morning.

Light intermittent rain was also reported from the coastal areas of Lasbela.

In Karachi, meanwhile, rainwater had accumulated at the entrances of city courts, which posed difficulties for lawyers.

9:30am — Despite cyclone warning, dangerous billboards yet to be taken down

On the very day when Cyclone Shaheen in the Arabian Sea started showing its effects in Karachi, the commissioner’s office sprang into action, ordering immediate comprehensive inspection and removal of billboards and hoardings throughout the city.

The order came on Thursday after strong winds had already uprooted a few street light poles in different parts of the city.

According to the administrative order issued by Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Sheikh in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order, and in the wake of the alert of tropical cyclone Shaheen, all deputy commissioners of Karachi Division have been directed to immediately undertake within their respective jurisdictions a comprehensive survey through qualified engineers of all the billboards and hoardings installed alongside main roads, on the faces of high-rise buildings and on the roofs of high-rises or elsewhere.

“The deputy commissioners are liable to get any billboards or hoardings thus found dangerous immediately removed in order to avoid any loss of precious human life or damage to public or private property, and furnish reports to this office.”

8:55am — Karachi will not receive very heavy rains: PMD

The chances of very heavy rains in the city have decreased, Director Met Sardar Sarfaraz said on Friday.

Talking to Geo News, Sarfaraz said there may be moderate to heavys rain in some parts of the city as the “Deep Depression” is moving away from the coastal areas of Sindh.

However, Balochistan's coastal belt is under threat and will receive very heavy rainfall.

He said that the chances of urban flooding in Karachi have also decreased.

8:30am — Public holiday declared in Karachi

Provinvial authorities have announced a public holiday in the metropolis due to the cyclone.

"Keeping in view the situation resulting from expected tropical cyclone & the rainfall, it has been decided that Friday the 1st of October will be a public holiday," Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab said Friday.

He said that all offices, educational institutions and businesses except essential services shall remain closed in Karachi.