KARACHI: Cyclone Gulab would gradually lose its intensity following its landfall in the Indian coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa on Sunday night, a met official stated.

The cyclone neither poses threat to Pakistan’s coast nor influences the ongoing monsoon spells in the country.

“It didn’t intensify further while crossing north Andhra Pradesh and south Orissa coasts. It will now gradually decay into a depression and then into a low pressure area, moving towards the western coast of India,” said weatherman Sardar Sarfaraz, adding that the maximum speed around the weather system was 40 to 50 nautical miles.

Asked about its influence on Pakistan’s coastal areas, he said currently it was far away from Pakistan and had no role whatsoever in prevailing conditions. “But, it might get re-strengthen when it turns into a low pressure area near Indian Gujarat and gets favourable conditions in the Arabian Sea.”

According to the met department’s advisory released in the evening, cyclone Gulab over west-central Bay of Bengal moved westward and started land-falling along north Andhra Pradesh-Orissa coast, India at 1500PST. “Reaching over land, the system is likely to weaken into a depression first and then a well-marked low-pressure area and track Northwestward (towards Indian Gujarat coast).”

It’s the third cyclone of 2021 after Tauktae and Yaas that had formed in May this year and the first in the month of September since 2018. Its name was proposed by Pakistan.

The cyclone data (1990-2021) of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), show that only 14 cyclones developed during September with just three storms between 2011-2021 (excluding cyclone Gulab).

There were two cyclonic storms in 2018 and one in 2011.

Rain expected from tomorrow

Meanwhile, the met department has forecast rain-wind-thundershower with heavy/very heavy falls across Sindh from Tuesday onward.

“Strong monsoon currents are likely to penetrate in Sindh from Sept 27 (Monday). Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind-thundershower with heavy/ very heavy falls is expected in Mirpurkhas, Tharparker, Umarkot, Sanghar, Thatta, Badin, Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Allayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad and Dadu, from Sept 28 to Oct 2 with occasional gaps.

“Rain-wind-thundershower is expected at scattered places in Sukkur, Larkana and Jacobabad during September 28 to Sept 30,” it said.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2021