Hurricane threat: Cyclone likely to cause thunderstorms, gusty winds in Karachi

A hurricane threat is developing in the Arabian Sea, some 1460 km south and southeast off the Karachi coast which will move north and northwest towards Indian Gujarat and is expected to make landfall by May 18.

This storm will be the first-named tropical cyclone of the year in the region.

The expected rapid intensification is due to ideal environmental conditions as sea surface temperatures in this region are some of the warmest in the world right now which is about 30-32 degrees Celsius.

As per Met Department, Rain and dust storms will prevail towards Hyderabad, Karachi, Jamshoro and Shaheed Benazirabad from May 18 to 20.

The wind speed at the center of the storm is expected 70 to 80 km per hour and is steadily increasing to 100 km per hour.

Reportedly, sea conditions will be very rough following which fishermen are directed not to venture in the sea from May 16 to 20.

Tropical cyclones use warm water as fuel and anything over 26.5 degrees Celsius and low wind shear helps the cyclone make maximum use of these extremely warm waters. Whereas, high wind shear tears tropical systems apart and limits their development.