Cyclone Shakhti slows down over the Arabian Sea

The Cyclone Warning Center Karachi reported on Monday that the severe cyclonic storm ‘Shakhti’ over the west-central and northwest Arabian Sea has weakened into a cyclonic storm during the past six hours.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has reported that cyclonic storm Shakhti is currently centered around Latitude 19.6°N and Longitude 60.4°E, approximately 910 kilometers southwest of Karachi. The storm is expected to move east-southeastwards and gradually weaken into a depression within the next 24 hours.

According to the latest weather report, the cyclone’s influence may cause isolated light rain in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan today. Sea conditions are expected to remain high to very rough, accompanied by strong winds ranging from 70 to 90 kilometers per hour near the Sindh coast. The PMD has advised fishermen to avoid venturing into deep sea areas until October 7 due to dangerous sea conditions.

Gale-force winds near the storm center may reach speeds of 80 to 90 kilometers per hour, gusting up to 100 kilometers per hour. However, wind intensity is likely to decrease gradually to 45–55 kilometers per hour, gusting up to 65 kilometers per hour, as the system weakens. The sea is expected to remain very rough to high over the northwest and west-central Arabian Sea during the next 24 hours before conditions start to improve.

Coastal authorities have been alerted, and precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of coastal communities and fishermen. The Cyclone Warning Center in Karachi is closely monitoring the situation and issuing regular updates. Residents of coastal districts are advised to stay informed through official weather bulletins and avoid unnecessary travel near the sea until conditions return to normal.