NATURE’S SECRETS

Thick clouds were hovering in the sky. The air was warmer than usual, holding more moisture and enhanced the atmospheric instability, as if, it was showing climate crisis in action. Nourished by strengthened updrafts and large hailstones, they now began to march towards the ground.

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Unpredictable Skies: Climate Crisis in Action With A Sudden Storm Blankets the Capital in Hail

The closer the clouds drew, the darker they became. By mid-afternoon, they had completely blocked out the sunlight. As the sky turned black over Islamabad, it was a clear sign of the climate crisis in action—an ominous storm system fuelled by high winds swept across the capital. Within minutes, several sectors of the capital city were blanketed in hailstones, a sudden and dramatic reminder of the volatile weather patterns now becoming all too common.

Pakistan’s capital Islamabad witnessed chaotic scenes on Wednesday when the heavy hailstorm battered the city, shattering hundreds of car windows and reportedly causing partial damage to the Faisal Mosque. The sudden and intense hailstorm, sweeping across the capital city, caused significant damage to vehicles, trees, and infrastructure. It transformed the landscape of the city into an unexpected icy spectacle. The hailstones layered the streets, rooftops, and parks of the capital in ice and dropped visibility drastically. The residents faced massive blows due to the incurring damages to cars, solar panels, and infrastructure of the city.

The images of smashed car windows flooded social media. The hail was as large as the size of golf balls pelting the capital. It is not over yet. More storms are possible through the weekend. The heavy hail was triggered by a sudden drop in temperature after an intense heatwave. Reportedly, the storm was preceded by abnormally high temperatures, creating the conditions for a sudden and violent atmospheric shift.

Unpredictability of Weather in South Asia:

Meteorologists attributed the phenomenon to the increasing unpredictability of weather in South Asia due to climate crisis in action. Whereas, Pakistan Meteorological Department shared fresh alert for another hailstorm in the metropolis. Met Office issued a new alert for likely hailstorm in Islamabad. According to it, such extreme weather events, including sudden hailstorms during ongoing heatwaves, could reoccur. Forecasters also warn of more extreme weather after damaging hailstorm hits capital.

Senator Sherry Rehman, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, was reported to describe the hailstorm as part of an increasingly frequent pattern of climate-related disruptions across Asia. She said the event was part of a growing pattern of climate shocks affecting Pakistan and the region. She also referenced China’s recent severe orange wind alert, its strongest in a decade, as evidence of the rising intensity of extreme weather across the region. In a statement on LinkedIn, she criticized Pakistan’s response to climate challenges, as fragmented.

“Our dams are drying up, our crops are withering, and yet climate adaptation remains an afterthought”, she said. She emphasized the need for a robust national strategy, warning that Pakistan is approaching a water and agriculture emergency. “While farmers receive basic weather advisories”, she noted, “they often lack the tools, training, and long-term support needed to adapt to the growing threat of climate volatility.”

Reportedly, climate change increases the frequency and intensity of hail in parts of the world. While hail might decrease in hotter areas, some regions witness more mid-to-large-sized hail at different times of the year. It was also reported that the hailstorm follows a pattern of erratic spring weather across northern Pakistan and has renewed calls for better urban weather preparedness. Experts says such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate crisis in action. Amid the chaos, people even termed incident as sign of divine punishment.

‘Climate disruption is making extreme events more common in our region’, a senior PMD official reportedly noted, ‘adding that a heatwave alert is also in effect for parts of Punjab and Sindh.’ PMD also cautioned residents about an impending heatwave expected to grip parts of the country in the coming days. Authorities urge citizens to take necessary precautions, stay updated with weather advisories, and avoid parking vehicles in open areas in severe weather alerts.

Shifting Seasons and Rising Risks: How Climate In Action is Impacting Pakistan’s Future

The sharp shifts in the seasonal patterns, along with renewed alerts of intermittent rains, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms across parts of Pakistan in the coming days, clearly underscore the scale of climate fluctuations and our growing vulnerability to climate crisis in action. Beyond extreme weather events—such as heatwaves, record-breaking rainfall, and hailstorms—the country is increasingly facing serious threats to agriculture, water resources, and other key sectors as the climate crisis in action unfolds in real time.

Pakistan is taking steps to address the ongoing climate crisis, including showcasing climate actions and solutions at international forums like COP29. Efforts are also underway to expand marine protected areas and promote clean energy, but the challenge remains severe and demands much more. Any policy, measure, or program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, builds climate resilience, or supports and finances sustainable goals reinforces the urgency of the issue. The path to climate resilience and environmental sustainability requires continuous effort. For the sake of our future—and the planet we all share—it is imperative that we act now, and act boldly.

Final Thought:

We must initiate climate action at all levels—individual, community, national, and global—because climate crisis in action touches every aspect of human and economic development. From food security and public health to water availability and livelihoods, the impacts of climate crisis in action are far-reaching and deeply interconnected. It is time to move beyond observation, and step into active roles as decision-makers, educators, and responsible citizens. Whether it’s reducing carbon footprints, supporting sustainable policies, investing in clean technologies, or raising awareness, every action counts.