KARACHI: Pakistan is bracing for an unusual spell of post-monsoon weather as two major systems, one from the Arabian Sea and the other from the Bay of Bengal, are converging to trigger widespread rains, thunderstorms, and potentially cyclone-like conditions across the country.
On Wednesday, Pakistan Meteorological Department and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority Sindh said that a well-marked low-pressure area currently lies over the northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Saurashtra coast of Gujrat, India, about 310 kilometres southeast of Karachi.
The system has moved westward from the Gulf of Kutch and is expected to intensify into a depression within the next twelve hours before continuing in a west to southwest direction.
Under its influence, wind-thunderstorm and rain of light to moderate intensity are likely in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Karachi Division starting today.
The sea conditions along Sindh’s coast are forecast to remain rough to very rough, with winds between 45 and 55 kilometres per hour. Fishermen have been strictly warned not to venture into the deep sea until October 3, while all deputy commissioners and DDMAs in Sindh have been directed to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures.
At the same time, moist currents from the Bay of Bengal have started penetrating into upper Punjab and are likely to strengthen between October 4 and 6. Together with inflows from the Arabian Sea, these currents are expected to trigger heavy rain-windstorms and thunderstorms across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir. Adding to the weather’s intensity, a fresh western disturbance is approaching from the northwest, which is expected to strengthen by October 3 and persist until October 7.
This combination of systems has the potential to generate intense rainfall, raising the risk of urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and other low-lying cities. In hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir, the threat of landslides and flash floods remains high. Strong winds may also damage weak structures, billboards, electric poles and vehicles.
Day and night temperatures are expected to fall sharply during this wet spell, while snowfall is also likely over the high mountains of northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Authorities have urged citizens to remain alert, avoid unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas, and stay informed through regular advisories issued by the Meteorological Department and disaster management bodies.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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