Before the onset of the winter season 2025–26, unverified claims circulated across social and print media, as well as in mainstream talk shows, regarding the likelihood of an extremely cold winter in Pakistan.
These claims were not supported by the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) Seasonal Winter Forecast (December–February) or by prevailing regional and global climate indicators. Moreover, observational data recorded by PMD to date do not substantiate these assertions.
In particular, the observed conditions during December are consistent with PMD’s seasonal outlook for DJF 2025–26.
The PMD outlook, developed using WMO-supported regional and global climate prediction systems, indicated near-normal to slightly below-normal rainfall, with temperatures expected to remain slightly above normal over most parts of the country.
Observations to date align with this forecast, characterized by overall below-normal rainfall, limited light to moderate precipitation over western and northwestern regions, and predominantly above-normal temperatures, especially across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan.
The ongoing evolution of the winter season, therefore, remains in close agreement with PMD’s pre-season outlook and does not support claims of extreme winter conditions. The public and stakeholders are advised to rely on PMD’s official products for accurate, timely, and scientifically validated weather and climate information.
Summary of December 2025 Observed Rainfall and Temperature
| Region | Total Rainfall (mm) | Normal Rainfall (mm)* | Rainfall Departure (%) | Mean Temperature (°C) | Temperature Anomaly (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 10.3 | 15.8 | -34.8 | 13.8 | +1.2 |
| AJK | 28.2 | 46.8 | -39.7 | 11.6 | +0.1 |
| Balochistan | 11.8 | 13.2 | -11.0 | 15.0 | +1.2 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | 8.1 | 10.9 | -25.9 | 5.9 | +2.3 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 15.5 | 25.7 | -39.7 | 11.5 | +1.5 |
| Punjab | 3.7 | 13.8 | -73.2 | 18.5 | +0.7 |
| Sindh | 14.4 | 7.9 | +71.7 | 18.5 | +0.7 |
*Normal Period: 1991–2020
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Rija please take meds out go to school. Clearly you don’t know how to write. It’s really really bad. It’s amazing how wrong you are
Just amazing. You should be in fox or Alex Jones
The avg temperature increased and the unsubstantiated claims were made by your own outlet in September and October post flooding
This very PMD had predicted drought for 2025 too…when we faved floods despite global flood warning data sets for south asia…what a pathetic coverage blaming mainstream media but not making the institutions credibility or them accountable for misleading the gen public? ProPakistani needs to do proper journalism instead of such rubbish