PMD issues new rain forecast in Pakistan for December 2025

ISLAMABAD: In a new forecast issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rainfall during December and early January is expected to remain below normal for most regions.

This dry spell can affect the soil moisture, crop health, and water availability, especially in areas that rely heavily on winter rains. The announcement has raised concern among farmers and communities already facing water stress.

Besides reduced rainfall, the weather department is also expecting temperatures to remain at a level slightly above normal. Warmer and drier conditions can serve to increase challenges for agriculture and can contribute to early pest activity that could potentially damage crops when they are in a more vulnerable stage of growth.

A long spell of dryness reduces the moisture of the soil to a minimum. In the case of Rabi crops, such as wheat, mustard, and barley, deficient rainfall seriously affects the germination and the crop yield.

Farmers in rain-fed areas would be the worst sufferers as they depend on seasonal rainfall rather than irrigation facilities.

Water supplies can be stressed, too. With less rainfall, the recharging of reservoirs, groundwater, and wells occurs at a slower pace. The household water supply may be impacted, and irrigation planning and livestock management affected for both rural and semi-urban areas.