Global Climate Change and Cloudbursts

A long-term change in an area’s temperature and weather patterns is referred to as climate change. Although the Earth’s climate is changing in a long-term, cyclical manner, man has only intensified and accelerated this process. This adds to global warming and even more fatal natural calamities like floods, drought and cloudbursts. Scientists have found a direct association between cloudburst and climate change. When clouds burst it cause more rain falls and damage. Pakistan is experiencing the worst flash floods in its history as a result of severe rainfalls that have demolished homes, bridges, and roadways.

Climate Change in Pakistan

According to the European Union, Pakistan generates less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But the Global Climate Risk Index says it is the most vulnerable to the climate crisis. Climate change has already changed the face of the region. Unseasonal heat waves, melting glaciers, unpredictable monsoon rains, and urban flooding are increasingly frequent. Millions have been uprooted by devastating floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, AJK, Sindh, and Punjab in recent years, highlighting the importance of taking immediate climate action.

Effects of Climate Change

Climate change is apparent all over the globe. The UN has stated that the disasters caused by climate have risen by five times over the past 50 years. Cloudbursts in the region have become more intense and frequent in recent years, driven by record-breaking global temperatures. Before this year’s floods, the region had been scorched by long periods of heat. For every degree over the average temperature, there is 7% more moisture in the air. Warmer air absorbs water like a sponge containing excess moisture. When this air hits the mountains, this can result in cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, and unexpected flooding.

Natural Disasters in Pakistan

Climate change has far-reaching consequences.  The United Nations believes that climate-related disasters have increased fivefold during the last 50 years.  In Pakistan, rising temperatures and irregular rainfall pose a significant threat to agriculture, water resources, and public health.  The number of deaths caused by floods and cloudbursts is increasing, demonstrating that global warming is no longer a threat in the distant future, but rather a reality today.

2025 Flood and Cloudburst in Pakistan

In northwest Pakistan, catastrophic floods have swept across villages, killing at least 321 people. More than 10 villages in the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were destroyed by flash flooding, and dozens of people are believe to be buried beneath the thick mud and debris. Also in Azad Kashmir, at least 60 people were killed and more than 200 were left missing. Pakistan saw its most severe monsoon season in its recent history in 2022, with extensive flooding killing nearly 2,000 people, displacing thousands, and causing an estimated $40 billion in damage. Since then, every year has seen deadly flooding. The climate crisis caused higher rainfall in Pakistan during June and July of this year according to recent studies.

What is a Cloudburst?

Cloudbursts are rapid, extremely localized downpours that can be devastating causing flash floods and landslides. They appear in mountainous areas, particularly during the monsoon season, when there is a lot of moisture in the air.  Monsoonal air strikes the mountains, rapidly cooling as it rises and condenses creating dense clouds that cause intense rainfall in short period of time. It can release 100 mm or more of rain in less than an hour. In Pakistan, cloudbursts have been reported in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and northern areas, causing massive destruction.

Cloudburst as a Natural Disaster – Global Statistics You Should Know

Globally, Asia accounts for nearly 70% of flood-related deaths. Studies show that with every 1°C rise in temperature, the likelihood of extreme rain events like cloudbursts increases by 7%.

• Pakistan:
• Monsoon floods and cloudbursts.
• Buner (KP) suffered more than 300 deaths, while the province had 327.
• Damages in the billions, massive relocation.
• India:
• Cloudbursts are most severe in the Himalayan states.
• More than 200 people died in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
• Villages, bridges, and roads washed away.
• China:
• Beijing, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia are experiencing intense rainfall.
• 23M people affected, 30+ killed.
• The first half of 2025 saw losses of USD 7.6 billion.
• America:
• Severe flooding in New Mexico, Texas, and the Mid-Atlantic.
• The deadliest flood since 1976 killed 135 people in Texas alone.
• USD 134 billion; floods account for a large portion of weather disaster damages.
• Bangladesh:
• Large rural areas have been flooded by monsoon floods.
• Significant agricultural and housing losses, millions of displaced people.
• Farmland and infrastructure were severely damaged.

How Human Actions Intensify Cloudbursts

The amount, location, and timing of monsoon rains have changed in Pakistan. Although Pakistan’s average rainfall appears to have declined, the frequency of intense downpours has increased. Human actions intensify the natural disasters through their actions like:

• Deforestation: Tree cutting weakens soil, causes landslides, and interferes with natural water absorption.
• Unplanned Construction: Hillside and riverbank development reduces water flow.
• Urbanization: Settlements along rivers, lakes, and streams are particularly vulnerable to flooding.
• Ineffective Drainage System: Metropolitan flooding occurs when drainage systems are poor or clogged.
•  River encroachment: occurs when rivers are altered or depressed, causing them to overflow into nearby lands.
• Burning of Fossil fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and severe rainfall.
• Improper Waste Disposal: Plastic and solid waste clog drains and waterways, causing waterlogging.

Urban Floods Caused by Cloudbursts

Because of inadequate drainage systems and fast urbanization, cities like Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore experience urban floods following cloudbursts.  Within minutes, streets become rivers, causing damage to infrastructure, cars, and homes.  To lower these dangers, sustainable practices and improved city planning are required.

Solutions to Climate Change & Cloudbursts in Pakistan

• Reduce Carbon footprint: Switch to solar, wind and clean energy.
• Smart Urban Planning: Minimise flooding and improve water protection with improved drainage, protecting the waterways and utilising green roofs.
• Plant More Trees: Rain is absorbed in forests and the impact of floods is less.
• Early Warning Systems: Weather alerts before it is too late.
• Community Awareness: Inform people on what to do in the event of floods & disasters.
• Rainwater Harvesting and small dams.
• Global Cooperation: Collaborate with global partners in terms of climate finance & technology.

If we fail to take action now, how many more lives will we lose to floods?

Together, we can fight climate change, global warming, and urban flooding to make Pakistan a safer place.