The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning regarding a possible cyclone forming over India’s Rann of Kutch, which is expected to reach the Sindh coastline on Friday.
The weather system is anticipated to travel west or southwest, entering the northeastern Arabian Sea near Sindh. In light of this, the authorities released a fourth alert on Friday evening, urging the public to take necessary precautions.
Given the developing situation, the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued a warning about a tropical storm likely to affect Sindh, with forecasts of intense rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms on Friday or Saturday.
“A deep depression has developed over India’s Rann of Kutch, currently situated approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Karachi and is moving towards Pakistan in a west-southwest direction, with the potential to evolve into a tropical cyclone,” read an NDMA statement.
Wind speeds in the affected areas are predicted to reach between 30-40 knots, with even stronger gusts. The system’s central pressure is currently estimated at 990 hPa, with potential changes over the coming 24 hours.
Under the impact of this weather system, widespread rains, wind gusts, and thunderstorms—some potentially severe—are expected in areas such as Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Karachi until August 31, with intermittent breaks.
Urban centers could face flooding due to these heavy rains, and the risk of flash floods remains high in local drains and hill torrents in Balochistan in the upcoming days.
The NDMA has urged all concerned agencies and the public to stay prepared and take necessary measures to minimize the storm’s potential impact. Authorities have been directed to stay vigilant and ready to deploy resources swiftly should any emergencies arise.
Fishermen and sailors are strongly advised against heading out to sea during this period.
“Residents in affected regions should remain alert, heed local authority guidance, and stay updated with weather reports. The public is encouraged to stay informed and use the ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile app for real-time updates,” the advisory added.
As a precautionary measure, Karachi’s city administration has decided to close all public and private schools on Friday.
A notice from the Karachi commissioner’s office confirmed that Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi ordered the closure of all schools across Karachi’s districts on Friday, August 30, following the PMD’s advisory.
The weather office has forecast intense thunderstorms and heavy rains in Karachi and various parts of Sindh, warning that the robust monsoon system currently near Tharparkar and the Rann of Kutch in India may extend its reach to Karachi, Hyderabad, and other districts, resulting in torrential downpours.
