Cyclone Biparjoy: Will Karachi witness cloudburst amid storm?

KARACHI: A cloudburst could occur in the port city when the cyclonic storm Biparjoy hits Sindh’s coast as it was in its sphere of influence, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Monday.

An extraordinary situation has arisen in the province owing to the threat of the cyclonic storm, which is moving near the southeastern coast of the country.

The tropical cyclone of extremely severe intensity is currently present in the Arabian Sea at a distance of 550 kilometres from Karachi and 530km south of Thatta, and will pass somewhere between Keti Bandar, Sindh, and Gujarat, India on June 15.

As per the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), high-intensity gusty winds, rain and subsequent coastal inundation were likely in the areas under the effect of the cyclonic system. Though Karachi is not under direct threat, the weatherman has forecast heavy showers and windstorms in the metropolis from June 13 to 17.

“As the direction of the cyclone was changing, it is not going to directly hit Karachi but strong winds and rain will be witnessed. Up to 60 millimetres rain will be recorded within half an hour [in Karachi] as forecast by the authorities concerned. A cloudburst of the same intensity as seen in 2022 will occur,” the chief minister said in a press conference in Karachi. 

Earlier, while speaking on Geo News’ programme "Naya Pakistan", Sindh Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said that the Biparjoy storm still had the same intensity and winds up to 180 to 200 km per hour are blowing near its centre.

When asked about the possible impacts on the coastal areas if a cyclonic storm hits, Sarfaraz said that the impacts on weather include strong squally winds and downpours. 

He said that the sea near Karachi will be rough and have high tides but the impact will not be as much as the areas from where the storm will be passed.

However, Karachi as well as Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Sanghar will likely witness heavy rain for three to four days as the cyclonic circulation is strong, he added. 

Moreover, the port city will also witness dust storms and strong winds blowing up to 70-80 km per hour on June 14 to 15. 

Meanwhile, weather expert Jawad Memon said that Karachi did not have any direct threat from the cyclone. But since the system is robust, its effects will be witnessed in the port city as well, he added.

Memon said that the downpours are expected to begin from tonight and the frequency of downpours and speed of winds will increase with the shortening distance.

Moreover, the height of tides in the sea will rise up to 3 to 4 feet high.