Cyclone Asna Intensifies Near Pakistan’s Coast, Heavy Rains Predicted in Sindh and Balochistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Friday that a cyclone has developed over India’s Rann of Kutch, intensifying into Cyclone Asna. The cyclone is currently positioned at approximately Latitude 23.5 N and Longitude 67.9 E, about 170 km south/southeast of Karachi and 88 km south of Keti Bandar, according to the PMD’s latest update.

Cyclone Asna is expected to continue moving west-northwestward, influencing weather conditions across several regions in Pakistan. The PMD has forecast widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms, with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall and isolated extremely heavy falls likely in Karachi, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts until August 31.

Similarly, widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy downpours are expected in Hub, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar districts from August 30 to September 1, with occasional breaks in the intensity of the rainfall.

The heavy rains may lead to waterlogging and inundation in low-lying areas along the Sindh-Makran coast. The PMD also warned that sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough, with squally winds reaching speeds of 60-70 km/h, gusting up to 80 km/h.

The Met Office has advised fishermen in Sindh to avoid venturing into the sea until August 31, and those in Balochistan until September 1. Despite the intensification of Cyclone Asna, the PMD has assured that there is no direct threat to Karachi or other parts of Sindh.