The Arabian Sea cyclone Asna has moved further away from Karachi and is now at a distance of 500 kilometers from the city. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued its ninth alert regarding the cyclone. While Karachi might experience light drizzle today, the threat of the cyclone has significantly reduced.

The cyclone’s distance from Karachi’s coastal area has increased, with ‘Sani’ now located 500 kilometers away.

According to the PMD’s ninth alert, the cyclone is 350 kilometers southwest of Ormara, 260 kilometers south of Gwadar, and 430 kilometers east-southeast of Muscat, Oman. The cyclone is moving towards the southwest.

The alert states that the intensity of cyclone Asna is gradually decreasing as it moves southwest.

While Sindh has largely escaped the immediate effects of Cyclone Asna, Balochistan’s coastal areas remain under a heavy rain threat until Sunday night, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

Chief Meteorologist Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz explained that the cyclone is moving away from both Sindh and Balochistan, but its remnants are expected to bring rain and thunderstorms, with some heavy downpours, to Balochistan’s coastal regions until Asna dissipates over the Arabian Sea on Sunday night.

This same weather system, which initially formed as a low-pressure area over eastern Rajasthan, India, brought heavy rainfall to Balochistan from August 26th onwards, leading to flash floods and infrastructure damage.

Regarding reports of another low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal, Dr. Sarfaraz emphasized that it’s too early to determine if it will develop into a cyclone.

The PMD issued an advisory on Saturday night, stating that Cyclone Asna, located about 370km southwest of Karachi, 250km southwest of Ormara, and 260km south-southeast of Gwadar, is expected to move westward until Sunday before turning southwestward and weakening.

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The advisory warns of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds (60-70km/hour) in coastal areas of Balochistan, including Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Jiwani, Turbat, Panjgur, and surrounding areas, until Sunday night.

The PMD advises fishermen in Balochistan to avoid venturing into the open sea until September 1st, while those in Sindh can resume fishing activities from Sunday.