Cyclone Biparjoy has ‘slowed down’, landfall expected after midnight.

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Authorities remained on high alert on Thursday as Cyclone Biparjoy, currently classified as a “very severe cyclonic storm”, was expected to make landfall later tonight or after midnight.

According to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, it had slowed down but the “core remains intense”.

“It will not make landfall before nightfall now. More information will be shared soon from the National Disaster Management Authority,” she said on Twitter.

In its 6pm forecast, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the cyclone was likely to cross between Keti Bandar and India’s Gujarat during the next “two to six hours”.

The alert issued by the PMD said that cyclone had moved northeastward during the last three hours and was now at a distance of about 245km south of Karachi, 210km south Thatta and 145km south of Keti Bandar.

Key developments

1. Cyclone 245km south of Karachi, 210km south of Thatta and 145km south-southwest of Keti Bandar
2. Sherry Rehman says cyclone “slowed down” and won’t make landfall before night
3. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated; possibility of another cyclone in July; rain reported across Sindh
4. Sindh CM puts administrations of Karachi,

It said the cyclone would bring winds between 100-120km/h with gusts up to 140km/h with maximum wave height of 25 feet.

The alert said that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm and heavy rain was likely in Sindh’s Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from June 15-17.

It further predicted dust/thunderstorm and rain accompanied with squally winds in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad & Sanghar districts today and tomorrow (Friday).

It added that dust/thunderstorm and isolated heavy rainfall was likely in Balochistan’s Hub, Lasbela and Khuzdar districts today and tomorrow.

The weather alert said that a storm surge of 3-4 metres was expected at Keti Bander, where the cyclone will make landfall, and its surroundings.

“Sea conditions along Sindh coast may get very rough/high (2-2.5m) and rough/very rough (2m) along Balochistan coast (Sonmiani, Hub, Kund Malir. Ormara and surroundings),” it added.

Rehman also shared a PMD report, saying that the cyclone was “still veering north-east”.

The report said the cyclone would make landfall by evening or midnight. It also said that over 100mm of rainfall was predicted in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar.

Meanwhile, over 300mm of rainfall was predicted in Thatta, Sajawal, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Umerkot and Tharparkar between June 15-17.

‘Storm still unstable, unpredictable’

Addressing a press conference alongside NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider after noon, Rehman said Cyclone Biparjoy had moved further from Karachi but at the same time noted that the storm was still unpredictable and unstable.

“Its landfall period is variable and has moved further between June 15 and 16,” she told reporters.

Rehman said the speed and direction of the cyclone were changing every hour, adding that over 17 stations were currently monitoring it and Biparjoy was the most monitored storm in the world right now.

Biparjoy, she continued, was still “a very severe cyclonic system under Category 3”. Its sustained wind speed was very volatile and the storm was headed toward north and north-east.

The minister said that Karachi would experience heavy rainfall and strong winds but would not be directly impacted by the cyclone.

Rehman also stated that there were 90 electricity feeders in coastal areas and there were chances of power failure when the cyclone made landfall. “Therefore, teams have been called in from Punjab for assistance in repair work.”

Regarding flight operations, the minister said airports had been given told to suspend commercial flights at airports in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur, and Moenjo Daro if the air pressure crossed the threshold of 30 nautical knots.

Showers in Sindh

As the cyclone inches closer to Sindh’s coastline, rains

 were reported in several areas across the province today.