The tropical cyclone, Nilofar, in the Arabian Sea has intensified into a severe tropical cyclone with an intensity of T3.5. Meteorological conditions in the region indicate that the weather system may further intensify into 'very severe tropical cyclone' on Monday night or Tuesday morning, according to a handout issued from the Meteorological Department, here on Monday.
The cyclone is located at Latitude 15.0 degrees North and Longitude 61.9 degrees East about 1,200 kms south-south-west of Karachi and 1,120 kms south of Gwadar. The cyclone is likely to move further west-north-westward (towards Oman Coast) with a speed of 08 km/hr during next 24/36 hours, and then it would re-curve north-eastward (towards adjoining coastal areas of Lower Sindh and Indian Gujarat).
Under the influence of this cyclone, widespread rain/thundershowers with isolated heavy falls accompanied by strong gusty winds are expected in Lower Sindh including Karachi and coastal areas of Balochistan during Wednesday night to Friday. The sea conditions along Pakistan coast would be rough to very rough from Wednesday evening to Friday. The fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan are advised not to venture in open sea from Wednesday to Friday. The fishermen who are already in the open sea are advised to return to coastal areas before Wednesday.