The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday dismissed reports indicating an extremely cold or record-breaking winter across Pakistan this year, maintaining available scientific data and climatic patterns did not support such forecasts.
Earlier this week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued a report stating “some meteorologists” had warned Pakistan may was likely to face one of its coldest winters in decades due to the La Nina climate pattern.
In its rejoinder, the PMD said its seasonal winter forecast (December-February) based on regional and global climate prediction models validated and verified through World Meteorological Organization-supported systems indicated near-normal to slightly below-normal rainfall. At the same time, it said, temperatures would be slightly above normal over most parts of the country. “While localized cold spells are likely due to passing western disturbances, no evidence supports an exceptionally severe or record-breaking cold season across Pakistan,” it added.
Referring to the La Nina climate pattern, it said it tended to suppress the intensity and frequency of winter weather systems over South and Southwest Asia, including Pakistan. “Consequently, such conditions usually result in fewer and weaker western disturbances reaching the country, reduced rainfall and snowfall activity over the northern and western highlands, and milder temperature anomalies across the plains of Punjab and Sindh,” it said. “Therefore, the ongoing La Niña event is expected to moderate the overall intensity of the upcoming winter season, contrary to the unfounded claims of an exceptionally cold or record-breaking winter in Pakistan,” it added.
The PMD urged the public to rely solely on official forecasts and bulletins available through its website and verified communication channels. Circulating false information about weather and climate can cause unnecessary alarm and public confusion, it warned.