- Cyclone Asna now positioned about 200km from Karachi.
- Weather system expected to move towards Oman.
- Quaidabad records highest rainfall in past 24hrs.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday warned Karachiites of heavy and moderate rain as cyclone Asna moves away from Sindh’s coastal belt.
According to PMD’s latest cyclone alert on Saturday, the cyclonic storm has moved further westward in the few hours and is now positioned about 200 kilometres from Karachi, 220km away from Ormara, and 380km from Gwadar.
The alert states that the system is expected to track further west-southwestwards towards the coastal belt of Balochistan and then towards Oman.
However, the storm is likely to weaken and dissipate in the sea, posing no threat of making landfall on any coast, as confirmed by the Met Office in the alert.
The PMD’s forecast shows a possibility of heavy rain with strong winds and intermittent thundershowers in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Sajawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and other districts of Sindh by today evening or at night.
Additionally, heavy rain is also likely in Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech and Gwadar districts of Balochistan till tomorrow (Sunday) night.
During this time, the meteorological department said that the sea conditions may remain rough as sea winds are expected to blow at 60 to 70km/hour in the metropolis.
The authority advised fishermen of Sindh not to venture into sea today while those in Balochistan must avoid going into the deep sea till tomorrow.
Karachi areas receive rain early morning
The traffic police in Karachi advised drivers to be drive at a slower speed and at a distance from other vehicles as the city received rain throughout last night under the influence of cyclone Asna.
Earlier today, Karachi’s II Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Burns Road and surrounding areas were drenched with rain while heavy rain hit areas including Defense View, Mahmoodabad, Akhtar Colony, Defence, Korangi, Qayyumabad and Sharea Faisal.
Additionally, areas, including Nursery, PECHS, Tariq Road, Clifton, Kharadar, Tower, Boat Basin, Garden, Exhibition, and MA Jinnah Road also received rainfall Saturday morning.
Drivers must avoid braking suddenly as it may potentially lead to a disaster, owing to the slippery roads as a result of wet conditions, traffic police said.
Karachi’s Rizvia, Gulbahar, Nazimabad, Model Colony, Airport, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Landhi, Guru Mandir, Federal B Area, Ayesha Manzil, Karimabad, Liaquatabad, Teen Hatti, and other areas also received rainfall.
Following is the amount of rainfall that various areas in Karachi received in the last 24 hours.
- Quaidabad — 39 milimetres (highest)
- Surjani Town — 24mm
- Korangi — 18.4mm
- Nazimabad — 17mm
- North Karachi — 16.5mm
- University Road — 16mm
- Jinnah Terminal — 16mm
- Airport — 15mm
- Mauripur — 13mm
- Mosamyat — 12.4mm
- Gulshan-e-Maymar — 11.8mm
- Kemari — 8.8mm (lowest)
