PMD dismisses reports of ‘extreme cold winter’ in Pakistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has dismissed reports suggesting that the country will experience an unusually harsh winter this year, clarifying that temperatures are expected to remain within the normal range.

Earlier, several media outlets cited a report claiming that the La Nina climate pattern would trigger the “coldest winter” in Pakistan’s history. However, the PMD refuted these claims, stating there is no scientific evidence to support predictions of extreme cold.

According to the department, Pakistan is likely to experience normal to moderate rainfall between December and February, but the mercury is not expected to drop to abnormally low levels.

While certain regions may experience short-term cold waves due to western disturbances, the PMD emphasised that the overall chances of a large-scale La Nina impact across the country remain minimal.

La Nina develops when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean drop below normal, often influencing weather patterns globally.

The speculation reportedly originated from an October report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which warned that La Nina could bring heavier rainfall to Pakistan and potentially affect Kharif crops.

“Some meteorologists warn that Pakistan is likely to face one of its coldest winters in decades due to the La Nina climate pattern,” the OCHA report stated, adding that such conditions could worsen the challenges for a country still recovering from devastating floods in recent years.

The PMD, however, reassured the public that current meteorological data shows no indication of extreme cold in the upcoming winter season.