KarachiThe tropical cyclone Phet, after hitting Oman’s coast, has subsequently re-curved towards Pakistan and will hit the coastal areas of Balochistan and Sindh today. However, the cyclone is unlikely to hit Karachi coast. Given its intensity, it will maximally affect the costal areas of Badin and Thatta in Sindh at the time of landfall. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday warned for immediate evacuation of people from low-lying coastal areas of Balochistan while a similar warning for coastal areas of Sindh could be issued today in order to avoid any untoward situation.According to PMD, Phet is expected to approach Pakistan’s coastal areas on Saturday (today) and could landfall on Sunday early hours (with maximum sustained winds between 100 to 120 kilometers per hour near the centre) with associated storm surge of 4 to 6 meters. The landfall of the Tropical Cyclone is expected at coastal areas of Sindh, South of Karachi.The latest cyclone warning issued by the PMD at 8pm on Friday said that the Severe Tropical Cyclone had started re-curving Northeast wards towards Pakistan’s coastal areas as was expected earlier. According to PMD officials on Friday, the coastal areas of Balochistan as per the forecasts started receiving rainfall as the initial affects of the cyclone. Along the Balochistan coastline, Jiwani received 33 milimetres (mm) of downpour, Pasni received 18 mm of rain, while Gwadar received 17 mm rain. Under the influence of the approaching cyclone, Sindh’s coastal areas would receive widespread rainfall with strong gusty winds from Saturday (today). As per the PMD alert on Friday, Balochistan coastal areas are likely to be severely affected by associated high storm surge during the next 36 hours. “Immediate evacuation is suggested from the low lying coastal areas of Balochistan. Warning about effects of storm surge on Sindh coastal areas will be issued on Saturday.”According to the Indian Meteorological Department on Friday, the severe cyclonic storm Phet over coastal Oman has moved further northwards and has now emerged into northwest Arabian Sea and at 5:30pm Indian Standard Time, June 4, lay centred over the northwest Arabian Sea near latitude 23.00N and longitude 59.50E, about 50 km north-northeast of Sur (Oman), 950 km west of Naliya (Kutch, Gujarat India), and 800 km West-Southwest of Karachi (Pakistan). Under the influence of this system, widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong gusty winds are likely in Balochistan coastal areas between Friday to Monday, and in Sindh between Saturday to Tuesday. Heavy rains may cause flash flooding in Balochistan and Sindh including Karachi, said the PMD’s alert.