PMD warns of more hailstorms after devastating Islamabad strike

ISLAMABAD: After a devastating hailstorm hit the federal capital, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning of the possibility of more severe hailstorms in the coming days.

The storm, which came with a sudden drop in temperature during a severe heat wave, damaged hundreds of vehicles in different parts of the city, breaking their windows.

The unexpected hailstorm also damaged several buildings, including a part of the famous Faisal Mosque. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a thick white layer of hail covering roads and parks, leaving many vehicles exposed to the elements, resulting in considerable property damage.

The force of the storm was so strong that the windows of cars parked outside across Islamabad were broken.

Experts have linked such severe weather events to climate change, which is having a significant impact on the region’s weather patterns. “While such incidents are not entirely unusual, the frequency and intensity of hailstorms in recent years suggests that climate change is altering the region’s climate,” a PMD official said.

In response to the damage, residents have expressed concerns, with some attributing the storms to divine retribution, reflecting the public’s uncertainty during such unpredictable weather.

However, the Meteorological Department has clarified that such incidents occur when there is a sudden change in weather conditions, especially during the transition between heat waves and rain.

“The sudden hailstorm observed yesterday is an indication of a change in the weather pattern. We have issued an alert for the possibility of similar storms in the coming days,” the PMD official explained.

In addition to the hailstorm, the department has also warned of the possibility of a heatwave in the next few days, which could bring back extreme temperatures to the region. Citizens have been urged to remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid further damage from severe weather conditions.