Key Points
- No 423 millimetre rainfall between July 16 and 17
- The rainfall was part of a widespread monsoon system
- Pakistan Met Office forecasts more rain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has rejected reports of a cloudburst in Chakwal district of the eastern Punjab province between July 16 and 17, 2025.
The amount of rainfall, 423 millimetre as reported by unauthorised sources, was also erroneous and extremely misleading, said a press release issued on Monday.
It noted that the data from PMD’s Doppler weather radar and rain gauge network recorded no such rainfall meeting the cloudburst criteria, which is typically defined as over 100 mm of rain within an hour over a limited region or area.
Official data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirms that rainfall at all stations in Chakwal—including those run by the Agriculture Extension Department and the Pakistan Air Force—remained below 150 mm over the past 24 hours.
This rainfall was part of a widespread monsoon system, rather than an intense or isolated event like a cloudburst, it clarified.
Press Release:
Rebuttal Regarding the Reported "423mm Rainfall due to Cloudburst in Chakwal on 17 July 2025" pic.twitter.com/C0mG6QSb5W— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 21, 2025
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) emphasised that its observational network operates in line with standards set by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
“Therefore, PMD advises all media outlets and concerned departments to verify meteorological claims with official PMD data before dissemination,” it said.
It added that the circulation of inaccurate rainfall statistics and attribution to cloudbursts can lead to public misinformation and unnecessary panic.
The PMD expressed its commitment to providing real-time, transparent, and scientifically validated weather information.
It advised stakeholders to reach out to the PMD’s National Weather Forecasting Centre in Islamabad or the Regional Meteorological Centres located in the provincial capitals for any further inquiries.
Pakistan Met Office forecasts more rain
Meanwhile, the PMD has forecast widespread rain-thundershowers from today (Monday) in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, upper Punjab, Potohar region, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northeastern and southern Balochistan.
Heavy Rainfall Alert in Pakistan | 21–25 July 2025, 5-Day Monsoon Warning
🚨 Heavy Rainfall Warning in Pakistan 🇵🇰
📆 21–25 July 2025
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a 5-day monsoon alert with forecasts of heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, pic.twitter.com/aNMQMId3f5— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 21, 2025
The PMD also warned that there is a risk of flooding in local and seasonal streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galiat, Nowshera, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Balochistan.
According to PMD, the water level in reservoirs is likely to increase further in the coming days as more rains are predicted between July 21-25, 2025.
