The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Monday Cyclone Shakti, which had developed over the west central and adjoining northwest Arabian Sea, has remained nearly stationary and is expected to weaken into a depression within the next 12 hours, posing no direct threat to Sindh’s coastal areas, including Karachi.
According to the latest alert issued by PMD’s Marine Meteorology and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, the system was centered around latitude 19.6°N and longitude 60.5°E, about 900 kilometres southwest of Karachi, and is likely to move east southeastwards before gradually losing strength.
The PMD said the sea condition remains high to very rough over the same region, with squally winds reaching 45 to 55 kilometres per hour and gusting up to 65 kilometres per hour in the deep sea. Gale wind speed reaching 70 to 80 kilometers per hour, gusting to 90 kilometers per hour, is being observed around the system center, which will gradually decrease to 45 to 55 kilometres per hour during the next 12 hours before further weakening.
The department advised fishermen not to venture into the open sea until Monday morning due to rough conditions and warned of continued high waves in offshore areas of Sindh and Balochistan. Conditions are expected to improve thereafter as the cyclone weakens.
The PMD’s Cyclone Warning Center, Karachi, said it is closely monitoring the system and will issue updates accordingly. It urged all authorities, including the National Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan Navy, and the provincial disaster management departments of Sindh and Balochistan, to remain vigilant and stay updated with PMD advisories.
The tropical storm, named Shakti by India, had initially shown signs of intensification over the central Arabian Sea last week under favourable sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions. However, a surge of dry air and increasing wind shear have since disrupted its core structure, preventing it from gaining further strength.
Meteorological experts said that while the storm’s current trajectory poses no direct threat to Pakistan’s coastline, sea conditions remain hazardous for small vessels and fishing boats operating in the deep sea. “There’s no cause for alarm for Karachi or other coastal cities, but people should continue following official updates,” a senior PMD official said.
The Arabian Sea, typically active between June and November, has seen fewer cyclones this season compared to previous years, but Shakti’s development serves as a reminder of ongoing regional climate volatility. Experts attribute these erratic storm patterns to rising ocean temperatures and changing monsoon dynamics across the Arabian Sea basin. The PMD said it will continue to issue updates if there are any significant changes in the system’s movement or intensity.