KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted strong winds with heavy rain today (Thursday), with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issuing a high alert for the Jinnah International Airport.
According to chief meteorologist, this pre-monsoon wet spell in Karachi will continue for the next two days. Amid a forecast of light rains and strong winds in the city between June 17 and 19, the CAA directed airside and fire departments to take emergency measures.
The CAA has instructed the relevant authorities to move planes to hangars to avoid them from getting damaged by strong winds. Small planes and helicopters should carry extra weight, it added.
Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Padaidan, Rohri, Hyderabad, Umerkot, Mirpur Khas, Tharparkar, Khairpur, and Sanghar will likely receive rain as well, the Met department said.
Earlier in June, the Met office had said that this year, Karachi and other parts of Sindh were likely to receive more than usual rainfall in the monsoon season.
It said that the usual amount of rain recorded for Karachi in July is 60mm, for August is 60.9mm and for September is 11mm. The PMD said that this year, the onset of the rainy season is expected between June 27 and 30.