Deep depression likely to intensify into 'Cyclonic storm': PMD

A deep depression over the Rann of Kutch, India, is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Thursday.

According to the weather department, the potential storm is developing in the northeastern Arabian Sea and over India's Rann of Kutch region.

"The system now lies at approximately 270 kilometres southeast of Karachi."

PMD said the system is expected to move west-southwest and emerge into the northeastern Arabian Sea along Sindh's coast by late tonight or tomorrow morning.

"Due to favorable environmental conditions, sea surface temperature, low-moderate vertical wind sheer and upper-level divergence, the system is likely to intensify further into a Cyclonic storm by tomorrow and move initially in west-south direction," it added.

PMD warned of widespread rain and wind thunderstorms, with scattered heavy to extremely heavy falls, expected in various districts of Sindh, including Karachi, till August 31.

The cyclonic storm is expected to bring torrential rains, potentially generating pluvial floods and inundation in low-lying areas of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab.

If the cyclone forms, it will be named "Asna", which means "highest" and "brighter".