Tropical cyclone Vayu forms in Arabian Sea; It would only bring heat wave for Karachi, not rains: PMD

Karachi: A deep depression in the Southeast Arabian Sea, some 1500 kilometers away from the Karachi coast has converted into a ‘tropical storm’, national and international meteorologists said on Monday, adding that although the cyclone was ‘most likely’ to hit Indian State of Gujrat, it could result in a moderate heat wave for Karachi with very low chances of rain in the coastal areas of Sindh.

“The Joint Typhoon Warning Center of United States has declared that a deep depression in the East Arabian Sea has strengthened into a tropical cyclone at a distance of about 1500 km South of Karachi. The system is likely to move initially North/Northwest-ward and strengthen further into a severe tropical cyclone during next 36 hours. Currently none of Pakistan coastal area is under threat from this system”, Chief Met Karachi Abdur Rashid told The News on Monday.

“However, the fishermen of Sindh are advised to remain alert and not to venture in deep sea. The authorities and stakeholders are requested to abreast them of system updates through PMD website”, the PMD official maintained.

PMD officials said they were closely monitoring the cyclonical activity in the Arabian sea for last few days and claimed that it was unlikely to hit the coastal areas of Sindh or bring any substantial rain for Pakistani coastal belt.

“Cyclone is more likely to bring a moderate heat wave by the end of this week with temperature ranging up to 40 degrees Celsius with high humidity”, Chief Met Karachi said, adding that due to high levels of humidity, the real feel could be very uncomfortable for the people.

It is worth mentioning here that a similar type of situation had aried in June 2015 when a well-marked low pressure area had formed in the Arabian sea that resulted in a five-day long extreme heat wave in Karachi. The heat wave coupled with fasting month of Ramzan, persistent power outages and scarcity of water had resulted in over 3000 deaths in the city.

Many other national and international meteorologists have also claimed that the ‘deep depression’ had intensified into a tropical cyclone, saying it was set to hit the Indian State of Gujarat and Run of Kutch area by the weekend.

As the system gains enough strength and intensifies into a cyclone, it is likely to be named as Cyclone Vayu—a name given by India, experts said adding that Vayu could easily intensify into a category-3 cyclone.

Meteorological experts say cyclonic activity in the Arabian sea starts in the months of May and June, prior to the start of monsoon season and resume in the September and October at the end of rainy season, adding that for last few years, intensity of the cyclones has increased manifolds.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) officials reiterated that they were having a close eye on the formation of the cyclone and its movement and added that at the moment, there was no need of panic in the coastal areas of Sindh as its track was constantly being monitored.

PMD officials further said weather was likely to remain warm and humid in the days ahead with temperature ranging between 35-37 degrees Celsius but added that due to high humidity, the real feel could be very high.