The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a clarification addressing widespread social media claims that Pakistan will experience an extremely cold winter this year. The department stated that these reports are baseless and not supported by scientific data or official forecasts.
According to PMD’s Seasonal Winter Forecast for December to February, Pakistan is likely to see near-normal to slightly below-normal rainfall, while temperatures are expected to remain slightly above normal in most areas. Although short cold spells may occur due to passing western disturbances, there is no evidence to suggest an extremely cold winter or record-breaking cold conditions across the country.
Experts at PMD explained that their forecast is based on regional and global climate prediction models verified through World Meteorological Organization (WMO) systems. Current analyses show a weak to moderate La Niña phase in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which typically reduces the intensity of winter systems in South and Southwest Asia.
Historically, La Niña conditions lead to fewer and weaker western disturbances reaching Pakistan, resulting in reduced rainfall and snowfall in the northern and western highlands. The plains of Punjab and Sindh are also expected to experience milder temperatures instead of an extremely cold winter as claimed online.
The department emphasized that such misinformation can cause unnecessary panic among the public. It urged people and media outlets to rely only on verified updates shared through PMD’s official website and communication channels.
In other news read more about Lahore Ranked Among World’s Most Polluted Cities Amid ‘Very Unhealthy’ Air Quality
In conclusion, PMD reaffirmed that while localized cold waves are possible during the season, there is no scientific basis for predicting an exceptionally harsh or extremely cold winter in Pakistan this year.
