Fact check: viral claims of historic cold and snowfall are false

Claim:

Social media posts circulating widely claim that Pakistan is set to experience the worst cold spell in the last 100 years between January 16 and 25, including unprecedented snowfall from Peshawar to Lahore, sub-zero temperatures in major cities, and extreme weather conditions not seen since the 19th century.

According to viral messages, snowfall of up to five inches is expected in Lahore, with temperatures dropping to minus 4°C. Rawalpindi and Islamabad are said to be at risk of snowfall with temperatures plunging to minus 5°C, a situation reportedly last seen in 1964.

The claims further allege 2 to 4 feet of snowfall in Murree and Galiyat, minus 15°C temperatures in Dir, minus 20°C in Quetta, and minus 25°C in Ziarat, along with icy winds of up to 100 km/h and a high risk of frostbite across Balochistan and upper regions.

Fact Check:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has categorically rejected these claims.

Director General of the Meteorological Department, Sahibzad Khan, told Hum News Digital that the information circulating on social media is fabricated and contrary to facts. He clarified that no such record-breaking cold wave or unusual snowfall is expected anywhere in the country.

According to the PMD, the current and forecasted weather patterns are consistent with a normal winter season, and there is no scientific basis for predictions of extreme, century-breaking cold or snowfall in major urban centers such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, or Islamabad.

Official Position:

The Meteorological Department has urged the public to rely only on official weather forecasts and authentic sources, warning that unverified social media content can cause unnecessary fear and panic.

Verdict: False

The claim that Pakistan will experience a 100-year record-breaking cold wave with widespread snowfall in major cities between January 16 and 25 is false. The country’s official meteorological authority has denied the reports and confirmed that no such extreme or unprecedented weather event is expected.