An extreme hailstorm struck Islamabad on Wednesday evening, killing five people, damaging cars, buildings, and residential spaces. Apart from damaging public and private properties, the severe hailstorm also damaged standing crops.
Reports of hailstorms were reported from parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Golf-sized hail struck properties and citizens alike, lasting for 35 minutes.
The rain also induced flash floods in KP, which also affected traffic, particularly on the main Peshawar-Torkham Road, where traffic remained suspended for up to five hours due to a swollen stream. In Islamabad, hailstones “as big as a golf ball” damaged vehicles and solar panels, while Tarnol remained the most-affected area, where strong winds uprooted trees and power pylons. Homes and markets were littered with debris and broken windows of cars. The roof of the iconic Faisal Mosque was also damaged.
The hailstorm followed several severe and hot days in the region. The temperature contrast caused the severe weather event in Islamabad yesterday. The hot winds rising from the plains of Punjab and cold winds coming from northern Iran cause the hailstorm.
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“Hailstones are formed due to this combination of varying temperatures, but extreme weather events are becoming more common, and the large size of hailstones was one of them,” said Dr Zaheer Babar, a spokesperson for the Met Office.
The National Disaster Management Authority has signalled extremely hot summers with below-average rainfalls in its three-month forecast from April to May. The intensified heatwaves can cause wildfires in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, the Potohar region, Murree, and nearby areas.
The cyclones are also expected to form in the Arabian Sea in May and June, affecting the nearby coastal areas. Extreme heat is expected to bring in heatwaves in Sindh, Southern Punjab and Balochistan.
Temperatures in southern Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan could climb as high as 45 degrees Celsius, particularly impacting cities such as Karachi, Badin, Larkana, Umerkot, Tharparkar, and Matiari.