Unusual Weather Phenomenon Grips Swat Valley: Heavy Rain, Hail, and Thunderstorms Disrupt Daily Life

Mingora, Swat – November 4, 2025 – In a dramatic turn of events that locals described as turning day into night, Swat Valley was battered by an intense weather system early this morning, bringing heavy rainfall, dense black clouds, thunderstorms, and localized hailstorms. This phenomenon, driven by a Western Disturbance forecasted by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), ended a prolonged dry spell but caused widespread disruptions, including a reported electricity outage in parts of the district. As Swat continues to recover from summer floods, this event underscores the valley's ongoing battle with erratic climate patterns, testing the resilience of its communities while highlighting the need for enhanced preparedness.

Eyewitness accounts, including submissions from local residents, painted a vivid picture of the chaos: visibility plummeted under thick, ominous clouds, making mid-morning feel like midnight, while hail blanketed streets and fields in white. A thunderstorm reportedly struck the main grid station in Chakdara, leading to a blackout that affected much of the district until restoration in the evening. While official confirmations of the exact outage are pending, such incidents are common during severe storms, as lightning and winds can damage infrastructure.

The PMD had issued warnings for rain, wind-thunderstorms, isolated hailstorms, and snowfall over mountains in northern regions like Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, and Mansehra from November 4 onward. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) echoed these alerts, noting potential damage to weak structures from strong winds and hail. Media reports confirmed heavy rain and hail disrupting life in Swat and neighboring Dir, with videos capturing the intensity of the downpour and hail accumulation.

Related Stories