It was a considerably hot day, hovering at 38 degrees Celsius, feeling like 40 degrees Celsius under the unforgiving sun. There was a slight breeze in the air, but not enough to give respite to the suffocating heat. Then, almost within a few hours, the skies turned grey, dust-filled wind started to blow, and people started to rush home. A sense of foreboding in the air. In the span of a month, the capital has experienced multiple weather changes. From a heatwave to a storm surge, this weather turnabout isn’t just out of place, it is a warning.

What we are witnessing is not just a few days of erratic weather but rather the effects of climate change coming to the forefront.

May is traditionally a moderate month for Islamabad. According to the World Weather Online temperature in May ranges from 32-37 degrees, with a few days reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Islamabad does see slight rainfall in April and May, but nothing compares to the extreme weather events taking place in 2025. Over the past few years, the weather system has been shifting.

In 2024, May was cool and calm, leaving the heatwave for June, but May 2025 started strong with full weeks of soaring 41 degrees Celsius. These sudden weather changes have started to highlight unpredictable weather changes. What we are witnessing is not just a few days of erratic weather but rather the effects of climate change coming to the forefront.

According to the climate change knowledge portal, Pakistan is ranked 18 out of 191 countries as most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Most of the focus has usually been on large-scale climate disasters like the 2022 floods. Despite this focus, urban cities are becoming the forefront of climate change in their way.

This year’s extreme weather is part of a larger pattern of increasing climate instability. Scientists have pointed to many contributing factors. A 2020 research paper published in Springer has predicted that climate hazards are expected to increase with the rise in global warming. The warmer air brought on by the heat waves leads to more intense and heavy rainfall. Simultaneously, the heatwaves are becoming more severe and longer. It can be said that extreme weather is intensifying, and the middle weather is reducing day by day.

Islamabad, like other major cities of Pakistan, does not have a dedicated climate resilience strategy.

What does this weather variability mean for cities like Islamabad? A lot is at risk due to climate change. The urban infrastructure is not equipped to deal with sudden storms and heat waves. The spread of the cityscape, reduction of greenery, and poor planning have put the cities at risk. Islamabad, like the other major cities of Pakistan, does not have a dedicated climate resilience strategy. What once was a sprawling green city is slowly turning into a city filled with infrastructure, with trees being replaced with buildings.

This has contributed to reduced coverage to help regulate temperatures and to escape the heat. Similarly, there are no proper early warning systems to help residents be prepared for extreme weather events, which often leads to panic when the rain starts pouring. The month of May should serve as a wake-up call not just for the city of Islamabad but all cities of Pakistan. Climate change is no longer a distant problem but rather has become a reality of today.

The question that arises is what should be done. The most imperative thing at the moment is for policymakers to stop treating these extreme weather events as temporary events. These events have become a new baseline and should be treated with the urgency that they deserve. Climate adaptation strategies need to be adapted into the local governance of major cities. This entails investing in better awareness forums, which make people aware in time of the impending storm.

These events have become a new baseline and should be treated with the urgency that they deserve.

Additionally, investment needs to be made into enhancing water drainage systems, expanding the plantations of trees, and green belts. Finally, buildings need to be strictly put under safety codes to prevent any harm and damage during storm surges. Along the same lines, public awareness needs to be improved. Climate literacy needs to be improved so that people become aware of why the climate is changing and how to adapt to the changing times.

The extreme weather variability of May in Islamabad is not a one-time incident. It points to a much deeper change in Earth’s climate and the resulting vulnerability of our country. The most important question remains is that whether we will keep on ignoring these signs or start focusing on what they are pointing to. If we ignore the signs, we are doing it at the risk of our future.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.