The Meteorological Department on Monday advised fishermen to remain cautious and avoid going into the open seas as the low pressure that had developed over the eastern Arabian Sea a few days ago had developed into a depression during the last 12 hours. However, it said that the depression was now heading towards the coast of Oman and there was no risk to the coastal areas of Pakistan. The department said the depression was currently situated 1060 kilometers south-west of Karachi; 1080 kilometers south of Ormara, and 1,110 kilometers south-east of Gwadar, and was now moving in a west, north-westerly direction.  The department informed that winds, ranging between 30 kilometers and 50 kilometers per hour, were expected to blow in the area around the depression.

If this system develops into a storm, it will be named “Dana,” as proposed by Qatar meaning a precious and beautiful pearl in Arabic. Last month, during the monsoon season, a similar low pressure had developed over the Arabian Sea. Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz had said that a cyclonic storm developing during the monsoon season was very unusual, noting that this was for the first time since 1961 that such a weather system was directed towards Sindh’s coastal belt from Central India. “During monsoon, there is approximately one per cent or two per cent chance of a depression or low pressure turning into a cyclonic storm or tropical cyclone.” meteorologist Anjum Nazir said.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan