On 9 October 2026, the National Disaster Management Authority issued a weather advisory warning of rain, wind, thunderstorms and isolated hail across the upper and central parts of the country from 10 to 15 October — and it names 13 and 14 October among the main storm days for Punjab and Islamabad. That means today.

This guide decodes the advisory wording, sets out lightning safety the way the US National Weather Service teaches it, and explains what to do when hail starts while you are driving.

Thunderstorm safety: reading the advisory's fine print

The NDMA advisory is based on a Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast: a westerly system entering the country's upper regions, bringing intermittent spells of rain and thunderstorms until 15 October. "Isolated hail" and "with occasional gaps" are not hedges — they are the forecast shape. Not every city gets hit on every day.

Here is how the days break down, per the full advisory read on NDMA's own site and WE News English: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, the Galliyat region, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Sargodha are in line for rain, windstorms and thunderstorms with isolated hail on 10–11 October and again on 13–14 October. Multan, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Okara face similar conditions on 10, 11 and 13 October. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gets the longest spell — rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and isolated hail from 10 to 15 October — with isolated spells in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the same window. Balochistan gets isolated storms in the northeast; Sindh stays hot and dry.

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority runs its own province-wide alert from 10 to 14 October, directing district administrations to stay alert and urging residents to shelter in secure locations during storms, avoid unnecessary travel, keep children away from low-lying areas and power poles, and call emergency helpline 1129 for assistance. Today, 13 October, is one of the named days.

Lightning indoors: when thunder roars, go indoors

Lightning can strike well away from the rain, so take thunder seriously even under a clear sky.

Once inside, the rules from the National Weather Service lightning safety overview are simple:

  • Stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap. Most people are caught because they go back out too soon — when the rain eases, not when the storm has passed.
  • Do not touch anything plugged into an electrical outlet — no corded phones, no computers. Cordless and mobile phones are safe to use.
  • Avoid contact with plumbing — no hand-washing at the tap, no shower, no dishes by hand while the storm is overhead.
  • Stay away from windows and doors and off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls — concrete often contains metal bars that conduct electricity.

Caught outside: how to reduce the risk

The National Weather Service is blunt: no place outside is safe during a thunderstorm. The goal is only to reduce the risk while you get to shelter:

  • Immediately get off elevated ground — hills, ridges and peaks.
  • Never shelter under an isolated tree — it keeps you dry and makes you the tallest target.
  • Never lie flat on the ground — lightning currents travel along the surface and can be deadly over 100 feet from the strike.
  • Get out of and away from ponds, lakes and any other water.
  • Stay away from anything that conducts electricity: barbed-wire fences, metal poles, power lines, scaffolding.
  • If you are in a group, spread out — it stops the current from travelling between people.

And one fact that saves lives after the fact: lightning victims do not carry a charge — it is safe to help immediately. Most lightning fatalities are caused by cardiac arrest, so call emergency services at once and begin CPR if the person has no pulse and is not breathing.

Hail starts while you are driving: the safe sequence

Hail can exceed the size of softballs and fall at speeds over 100 mph — fast enough to shatter windshields. The National Weather Service's severe-weather guidance sets out what to do when you are on the road:

  • Get off the roadway, if possible — pull into a parking lot, petrol station or other covered spot, and stop.
  • Do not stop under a highway overpass or bridge. It feels protective but is not truly safe, and stopped vehicles can create a deadly traffic jam.
  • Stay inside the vehicle unless a sturdier structure is immediately available — a car is safer than being outside.
  • Protect yourself from glass — keep your seatbelt fastened and use blankets, coats or clothing to shield yourself if the windshield shatters.
  • If you cannot get off the road, slow down, switch on your hazard lights and stay calm — sudden braking and lane changes are as dangerous as the hail.

If the forecast names your day, park under cover and bring pets and loose items indoors before you leave.

Before the wind hits: roofs, balconies and power lines

Thunderstorms in this advisory come with strong winds, and the Met Office warns that wind, lightning and isolated hail can damage weak structures, electricity poles, billboards and standing crops. Most storm damage is not the storm itself — it is what the storm throws around.

  • Secure the rooftop and balcony: bring in plant pots, loose sheets, drying racks, TV dishes and anything that can become a projectile.
  • Stay clear of power lines and poles during and after the storm, as PDMA advises. If a line comes down, assume it is live and keep everyone back.
  • Do not shelter in dilapidated or mud-built structures — the advisory singles these out as unsafe in strong winds.
  • Charge your phone and keep a torch handy — storms routinely knock out power in affected districts.
  • Avoid unnecessary travel on the named storm days, and adjust field work, as the Met Office advises farmers.

Preparedness is a routine, not an event — the same habit behind our earthquake go-bag guide, the post-rain mosquito routine and the pre-winter gas heater guide.

What our records show, and what they miss

Our tracker logs storms, lightning strikes and hail damage under its weather and wind event categories, and the latest World Incident Report: 5 October – 12 October 2026 shows how busy the weather picture has been this month. But our records count reported events, not total human impact — the same categories carry the year's measles surge (see why the most contagious virus finds every gap).

The gaps run in both directions. A forecast like today's advisory generates incident records only where storms cause damage — a storm that passes quietly leaves no record at all. And one dramatic hailstorm can dominate a week's count while dozens of quieter incidents go unreported. Treat every published number as the visible tip of a larger weather picture. For how we count and where the blind spots are, see our method note on the trending page.

The short version

  • Today, 13 October, is a named storm day for Islamabad and most of Punjab — with 14 October next — under NDMA's 9 October advisory.
  • When thunder roars, go indoors — and stay inside 30 minutes after the last rumble. Avoid wired electronics and plumbing while the storm is overhead.
  • Caught outside? Never shelter under a tree, get off high ground, get out of water, and stay away from metal.
  • Hail while driving: pull over safely, stay in the car, never stop under an overpass — and shield yourself from glass.
  • Before the wind hits: secure the rooftop and balcony, charge your phone, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep PDMA's helpline 1129 handy.