KARACHI: There is no threat to Pakistan’s coast from cyclonic storm Gulab formed over the Bay of Bengal, the met department stated on Saturday.

This will be 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.

According to Sardar Sarfaraz of the met department, the cyclone is expected to move westward, crossing over Vishakhapatnam — a port city and industrial centre in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

“It won’t be intense as it’s likely to have a short life of 24 to 36 hours,” he said.

According to Mr Sarfaraz, the formation of a cyclonic storm in September is a bit unusual as they normally occur in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period.

“This means they generally occur between April and June or in the months of October and November. Also, the long monsoon spell in September is unusual given the historical minimal contribution of September in monsoon. But, this helped meet our water shortages as August went into deficit across the country,” he said.

About the monsoon spell continuing in Sindh, he said it had no connection with the formation of the cyclonic storm. “The spell is being caused due to circulation over the Arabian Sea and Indian Gujarat.”

The cyclone data (1990-2021) of 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.

According to IMD, the system intensified from low pressure (wind speed less than 34kms/hr) to a deep depression (wind speed 51 to 61kms/hr) in less than 48 hours.

The department has warned of very heavy to extremely heavy rain (115.6mm to over 204.4mm in 24 hours) on Sunday over south Odisha, north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Heavy rain is likely over Telangana, north interior Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2021