ISLAMABAD: The capital city is currently under a strong spell of monsoon rains, with the early hours of Wednesday marked by sudden thunderstorms, lightning, and steadily falling temperatures as Islamabad and Rawalpindi buckle up for a rainy night.
At 1:30 am, temperatures hovered at a warm 27 degrees Celsius; a warmth intensified by an 81 per cent relative humidity. The stickiness enveloped the twin cities in a humid, tropic atmosphere typical of monsoons.
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Thick cloud cover soon after blanketed 88 per cent of the sky, punctuated by frequent lightning strikes, including one detected just 4 kilometres from the Hum News office.
Visibility was limited at 4 kilometres and forecast models predicted a further reduction to around 2 kilometres as rainfall intensifies before dawn.
The meteorological department forecasted a substantial 4.54 centimetres of rain within the next 24 hours.
The atmospheric pressure stood at 994 millibars and was reported to be dropping rapidly – a classic indicator of intensifying thunderstorms.
Winds from the southeast blew steadily at 15 kilometres per hour with gusts rising to 33 kilometres an hour. The bursts stirred the city’s flora, creating a cool, wind-swept scene amid puddle-laden streets.
The dew point was at 23 degrees Celsius, signalling heavy moisture in the air.
combined with the humidity, it painted an environment thick with the quintessential scents and sensations of monsoon season
However, the city continued to grappled with low air quality. The air quality index was measured at 109, categorised as poor. The capital also contended with elevated levels of PM1.5 particulate matter recorded.
Wednesday Weather
Looking ahead, weather in Islamabad is set to remain unsettled through the day, with scattered showers expected. Skies might partially clear towards the evening.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach up to 29 degrees Celsius, before cooling to around 24 degrees Celsius overnight.
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Residents in Islamabad might catch a glimpse of sunrise at 5:17 am if cloud cover loosens. The sunset is expected at 7:10 pm.