This article was originally published on Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP)

• Harsh dust storms back in Punjab!

• Western winds hampering monsoon

• Pre-monsoon winds in Karachi

• Cyclone Keila to hit Oman or India?

Pakistan weather Background

*A western disturbance is likely to affect Pakistan that is likely to bring more severe dust storms and moderate to heavy rainfall in that part of the country.

*Moisture from Arabian sea affecting Karachi and coastal Sindh, cloudy/windy conditions to prevail in the region, a part of pre-monsoon conditions.

The target of western disturbance this time!

A western system is likely to grip many parts of the country from May 24 till May 28. The weather system will cause high destructive winds with heavy rainfall. This wave will intensify over Pakistan due to the high temperatures over land. People of Punjab, Khyber, Upper Sindh, Upper Balochistan, Gilgit, FATA and Kashmir should avoid standing outside at the time of the dust storms as the previous storm caused 17 people to die in Punjab while 41 in India, mainly due to severe winds, as many houses collapsed. Temperatures all over the country will decrease due to this weather system.

The weather system will not cause any activity in Karachi or coastal areas of Pakistan.

Weather Warning for Punjab!

As I said earlier, this western disturbance has the potential to cause some deaths in these areas especially in Punjab. Precautions should be taken to avoid any uncertain incident. The main threat is from dust storms, locally called Kali Andhi (Black storm).

Monsoon Update 2011

Karachi to remain cloudy

The moisture from the Arabian sea is continuously penetrating into the parts of the coastal areas. These are some of the pre-monsoon characteristics which Karachi is experiencing, but this year they have been some what early. Drizzle could occur during this week. Evenings and early mornings will be partly to mostly cloudy in Karachi.

Possible Cyclone in the Arabian sea??

There is an area of thunder showers in the Arabian sea that is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm (tropical storm) during the first week of June. No major details are available yet. But the storm could threaten two areas, either India or Oman.

If the storm heads to India, then Gujarat-Maharashtra border is the target. Otherwise its Oman. As per latest forecasts, the coastal areas of Pakistan are safe from this cyclone but the path and intensity of this storm will change in coming days. It not confirmed that the cyclone will form or not. There are some good chances for formation of tropical storm as of May 24. But these chances could vanish during the coming days.

Name of the possible cyclone?

 The next name on the list for North Indian Ocean cyclone is Keila, pronounced as Kei-la. A name given by Maldives.

Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) will give regular updates, news alert and breaking news regarding this cyclone, if it forms and threatens the Pakistani coastlines.