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PMD Dismisses Reports of Extreme Cold Wave in Late January
PMD rejects social media claims of an extreme cold wave from Jan 16–25, saying temperatures will remain within the normal winter range. Public urged to rely on official forecasts.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-12
PMD Dismisses Reports of Extreme Cold Wave in Late January

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday dismissed reports circulating on social media about an expected “extreme cold wave” from January 16 to 25, stating that temperatures in the coming days will remain within the normal winter range.

In a rebuttal issued today, the PMD warned that several social media platforms were spreading misleading and unverified forecasts, falsely claiming record-breaking cold conditions across the country.

“Certain social media platforms are circulating misleading and unverified forecasts claiming an extreme cold wave across Pakistan during the period from Jan 16–25 with record-breaking temperatures,” the PMD said in a statement.

The weather body categorically rejected these claims, clarifying that no extreme or historic cold wave is expected during the mentioned period.

“According to the latest analysis of numerical weather prediction models and observational data, temperatures are within the normal winter range, with no indication of widespread or persistent record-breaking conditions,” the statement added.

The PMD urged the public to rely only on official forecasts, warnings and advisories issued by the department and avoid spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary concern.

Meanwhile, Weather Updates PK, an independent weather agency, said on X that the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) had been indicating a rare long-range weather scenario, linked to a possible polar vortex disruption.

A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles, according to the US National Weather Service. ECMWF provides global numerical weather predictions.

Weather Updates PK noted that the ECMWF forecast had gained traction on social media, with claims suggesting that severe Arctic cold winds could bring record-breaking negative temperature anomalies to southern Pakistan, including Karachi. However, it clarified that the forecast was long-range and subject to change.

The agency stressed that no other major weather models have confirmed the projection, adding that it was “not right to take it seriously” at this stage.

It further stated that while a western disturbance is expected between January 18 and 20, which is usually followed by a cold spell, there is no final confirmation about the intensity of any cold wave so far.
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