3 min read
Islamabad: A powerful and sudden hailstorm hit Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon, unleashing massive hailstones, torrential rain, and strong winds. The storm, which lasted around 35 minutes, caused extensive damage to vehicles and infrastructure. However, amid the chaos, one organisation’s timely intervention helped many avoid even greater losses: WeatherWalay, Pakistan’s first private weather technology company, which issued early alerts through its mobile app.
WeatherWalay app was the first to issue a hazardous hailstorm alert ahead of the storm’s arrival. The app’s AI-based prediction system, in conjunction with data from Automated Weather Stations (AWS), provided early warnings to users through mobile applications and digital interfaces. As a result of the early warning, numerous residents took precautions to protect their vehicles and property, resulting in reduced damage and a higher likelihood of survival.
The storm hit hardest in areas like Tarnol, E-11, G-11, and F-10, where hailstones the size of golf balls smashed windscreens, dented car hoods, shattered windows, and tore through rooftops. The disaster had a significant impact on the crucial solar carports and photovoltaic panels that were integral components of Islamabad’s sustainable energy framework. A financial loss of ten million rupees was the consequence of the devastation of solar equipment.
In Tarnol, trees were uprooted and power lines were downed, plunging neighbourhoods into darkness. Streets were flooded and strewn with broken branches, shattered glass, and debris. The ice storm caused significant damage to residential areas in the city, resulting in the appearance of parking lots as major garbage sites, with wrecked vehicles littered across driveways and parking spaces.
Due to WeatherWalay’s timely alerts, many users were able to make informed decisions and take swift action. One user expressed gratitude on social media, saying, “A heartfelt thank you to organisations like WeatherWalay for issuing timely warnings that helped many prepare and stay safe.”
Many residents who received the alert were able to move their vehicles indoors and take basic precautions, potentially preventing even greater losses. The alert proved crucial in minimizing danger, especially in densely populated urban zones.
While the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecasted thunderstorms and gusty winds for the northern regions, the WeatherWalay app provided an extra layer of preparedness with its highly localized and precise weather updates. The alerts proved crucial in urban areas where the intensity of the storm was unexpected and overwhelming.
The intensity and scale of destruction evoked scenes reminiscent of the science-fiction disaster film Geostorm, where sudden, catastrophic weather events overwhelmed urban centres. However, for Islamabad, this was no cinematic fiction but a harsh and tangible crisis.
WeatherWalay’s role during this crisis highlights the growing importance of timely, data-driven weather forecasting and the need for communities to adopt more robust preparedness strategies as part of adapting to a rapidly changing climate.
