Weather Updates: Winter Season to Begin on This Date, Confirms PMD
Pakistan is gearing up for the long-awaited seasonal transition as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has officially confirmed the onset of winter from the third week of November. After months of lingering heat and fluctuating temperatures, the country will finally enter a steady cooling phase, marking a decisive shift in national weather patterns.Weather Updates: Winter Season to Begin on This Date, Confirms PMD
Colder-Than-Usual Winter Expected — PMD Issues Advisory
According to the latest PMD climate assessment, this year’s winter is expected to be comparatively colder than recent years, particularly in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and upper Sindh.
Meteorologists have attributed the anticipated chill to:
- Strong western wind systems entering earlier than usual
- Enhanced Siberian pressure belts pushing cold airflows southward
- Reduced post-monsoon rainfall leading to quicker surface cooling
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A senior PMD official stated:
“Nighttime temperatures across plains are expected to drop rapidly by the end of November, with foggy conditions dominating most mornings. Northern uplands may record early snowfall.”
Temperature Outlook Across Major Regions
| Region | Early Winter Start | Temperature Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Areas & Murree Region | Early November | Sub-zero nights; early snow predicted |
| Upper & Central Punjab | Mid to Late November | 6–8°C drop expected at night |
| Sindh (Including Karachi) | Late November to Early December | Gradual transition with mild evenings |
| Balochistan (Quetta, Ziarat) | Early November | Sharp temperature plunge; frost |
Fog, Smog and Travel Disruptions Likely in Punjab
While the colder spell brings a sense of relief, it also comes with challenges — particularly for Punjab’s major urban centers, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala.
- Dense fog may reduce visibility to below 50 meters on highways.
- Motorway travel restrictions are likely during early morning and late night hours.
- School timings and airline schedules may undergo seasonal adjustments.
The PMD has urged citizens to adopt “cautious commuting practices”, especially during peak fog hours.
Good News for Tourists — Early Snowfall Expected in Northern Pakistan
The tourism sector is buzzing with anticipation as PMD forecasts earlier-than-usual snowfall in Murree, Galiyat, Swat, Chitral, and Skardu.
- First snow flurries may arrive by late November.
- Hotel bookings in high-altitude towns have already surged, particularly ahead of the December holiday season.
- Tourism authorities, however, have warned against unplanned late-night drives due to landslide-prone slopes and slippery roads.
Preparing for Winter — Safety and Household Recommendations
To avoid seasonal health complications, experts recommend:
✅ Service gas heaters and ensure proper ventilation to prevent gas leak hazards
✅ Stock emergency lighting, blankets, power backups, and insulated clothing
✅ Increase vitamin C intake and schedule flu shots early
✅ Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure during dense fog
Doctors have also advised special caution for children, heart patients, and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to sudden temperature drops.Winter does not arrive in Pakistan with a roar — it tiptoes in. It begins with a subtle hush in the air, a sting in the evening breeze, and the sudden disappearance of ceiling fans from verandas. In the northern mountains, snowflakes announce its arrival with quiet authority, while in the plains, fog creeps across highways before sunrise like a whispered warning.
From the frostbitten peaks of Skardu to the dusty yet wind-chilled alleys of Thar, winter in Pakistan is not a single story — it is a tapestry of contrasts, emotions, and survival strategies. Some welcome it as a season of romance and roasted peanuts, while others brace for hunger, fuel shortages, and delayed rescue helicopters.
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Where Winter Feels Like Magic — And Where It Feels Like War
In Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, winter transforms life into a picture postcard. Valleys turn white, roofs gather layers of snow, and frozen streams glisten under pale sunlight. Children wait eagerly for snowfall holidays, and tourists rush to Malam Jabba and Hunza, searching for Instagram-worthy frames. Kehwa (green tea) steams through wooden windows, and traditional woolen caps and shawls make their comeback.
But deep inside these same valleys, families living above market roads count their firewood cautiously. A late snowfall is beautiful — but an early one can seal their homes off from hospitals, schools, and even bread. When roads close, apples and apricots dried months earlier become lifelines.
In Punjab, Winter Smells of Smog and Roasted Corn
Punjab — the land of agriculture and energy — meets winter differently. It does not shiver first; it suffocates. Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala wake each year to a grey-colored dawn where fog has fused with industrial smoke.
- Cars crawl at 20 km/h on motorways.
- Schools delay openings.
- Asthma wards overflow.
And yet, the same air that blurs roads also brings nostalgia.
Outside tea stalls, bonfires burn beside sugarcane carts. Makki ki roti and saag appear on dinner tables, and grandmothers pull out ancestral copper pots to cook gajar ka halwa. In rural Punjab, villagers gather around cattle stables, where the warmth of animals replaces the absence of heaters.
Sindh’s Winter — A Season You Can Wear in the Evening
Winter in Karachi or Hyderabad is not harsh — it is a polite visitor who appears after sunset and leaves by noon. But for coastal citizens used to heatwaves and monsoon humidity, a 15°C morning feels like Europe.
- Blankets appear on sofas instead of beds.
- Sandy beaches become picnic spots again.
- Cafés host rooftop qawwali nights.
Yet in interior Sindh, especially in Tharparkar and Cholistan, winter is not poetic — it is unforgiving. Water wells freeze. Livestock dies. Infants fall ill. Here, winter is not weather — it is an annual exam of resilience.
Balochistan — Where Winter Is a Warrior’s Trial
In Quetta, Ziarat, and Kalat, winter is not merely cold — it is an adversary. Coal stoves burn through the night, and blankets are not layers — they are armor. The famed Ziarat juniper forests, some of the oldest in the world, wake under silver frost.
In these regions, tradition merges with necessity. People insulate entire rooms with rugs, sleep close to one another for warmth, and store dry fruits to barter for firewood.
But here too, beauty coexists with hardship. When snow falls in Quetta Bazaar, chai stalls play old Pashto songs, and children slide down icy slopes using iron trays.
National Culture of Winter — Knitwear, Nostalgia, and Nighttime Poetry
Winter in Pakistan activates a cultural shift that no official calendar could define.
Wedding season begins, filling cities with dhol beats muffled under fog.
Hand-knitted socks, Kashmiri shawls, and Peshawari chappals with socks become fashion statements.
Radio and TV channels start playing ghazals and folk lullabies instead of summer beats.
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Conclusion — A Season of Warm Cups and Cold Winds Approaches
With the official declaration from PMD, Pakistan now stands at the doorstep of winter — a season of chai, blankets, fireplaces, and mountain getaways. While nature prepares to turn the country into misty mornings and fog-lit nights, citizens must balance excitement with caution.
Winter is no longer coming — it’s almost here.
