On Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that the ‘Biparjoy’ cyclone, classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS), may affect Pakistan and nearby Indian coastlines. The cyclone has been tracked in a north-northeast direction and is now approximately 1,120km south of Karachi. The system, which still has the potential to intensify further, generates sustained winds between 130-150km per hour, with gusts reaching 160km per hour.
The PMD noted the cyclone’s course remains uncertain due to shifting upper-level steering winds, with some global models predicting a course toward the Oman-Pakistan western coast and others forecasting a trajectory toward the Indian Gujarat-Pakistan Sindh coast. Given this uncertainty, the cyclone will continue tracking north/northeastward for the next two days.
The PMD’s cyclone warning centre in Karachi is closely monitoring the cyclone. Fishermen are urged to avoid the open sea from 12 June onwards until the system passes, as the Arabian Sea conditions are expected to become extremely rough, accompanied by high tides along the coast. Moreover, due to the cyclone’s probable northeast course, heavy rain-thunderstorms and squally winds are predicted on the Sindh-Makran coast from the night of 13 June to the morning of 14 June. The cyclone’s centre is associated with very high/phenomenal sea conditions and a maximum wave height of 25-28 feet.
