Islamabad, May 18, 2025 – After an extended period of intense heatwave, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted a shift in weather patterns, with an increasing likelihood of thunderstorms in Islamabad.
The forecast brings a hint of relief for residents who have been enduring sweltering and heatwave conditions for several consecutive days.
According to the PMD, Islamabad will continue to experience very hot and dry conditions during the daytime on Sunday, May 18, 2025. However, by evening or night, the weather is expected to become partly cloudy, with a 30% chance of rain accompanied by wind and a possible thunderstorm at isolated locations.
For Monday, May 19, the PMD has raised the probability to 40%, expecting partly cloudy conditions in Islamabad with increased chances of rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms. A hailstorm may also occur in certain isolated pockets. This anticipated thunderstorm activity is linked to a shallow trough of westerly wave expected to enter the western and upper parts of the country starting Sunday evening or night.
At the national level, the PMD warns that most plains will remain under the influence of a severe heatwave for the next two to three days. Daytime temperatures are projected to remain 5 to 7°C above normal in the upper half of the country, which includes Islamabad, upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In the southern regions—Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan—temperatures may remain 4 to 6°C above normal.
A prevailing high-pressure system at the upper atmospheric level over central and southern Pakistan is expected to persist over the next three days, adding to the overall heat intensity.
Nationwide, Sunday and Monday will mostly see hot and dry weather and heatwave, with extremely high temperatures across the plains. Nevertheless, isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Potohar region, and northeastern Punjab could also witness rain, wind, and thunderstorm activity.
In Islamabad, the possibility of a thunderstorm remains a key concern, as residents look forward to some relief. The term “thunderstorm” has suddenly taken center stage in weather discussions across the capital, with many preparing for the sudden shift in atmospheric conditions. As Islamabad anticipates this weather change, all eyes remain on the skies for the long-awaited thunderstorm.