Tropical Cyclone Shakhti formed over the northern Arabian Sea south of Pakistan on Friday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Shakhti was located at latitude 21.9°N and longitude 66.6°E which put the center about 205 miles (335 km) south of Karachi, Pakistan. Shakhti was moving toward the northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.
A low pressure system over the northern Arabian Sea strengthened on Friday morning and the India Meteorological Department designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Shakhti.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Shakhti was gradually becoming more organized. Thunderstorms developed near the center of Shakhti’s circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Shakhti. Storms near the center of Shakhti began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Shakhti was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Shakhti’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Shakhti will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Shakhti will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over Pakistan and the northern Arabian Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Shakhti will intensify during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Shakhti will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over Pakistan. The high pressure system will steer Shakhti toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Shakhti will move parallel to the coast of Pakistan.
