Abbottabad Weather by Month: Temperatures and Rain

Abbottabad has mild springs and autumns, warm but not extreme summers with the heaviest rain in July and August, and cold winters where January nights fall to about freezing. The city sits at about 1,256 metres, so it is cooler than Islamabad or Lahore in any month, and average highs stay below 30 degrees Celsius for most of the year.

The table below shows monthly averages, and the sections after it explain what they mean for planning a trip. For a shorter verdict on which month to pick, see our best time to visit Abbottabad.

Abbottabad weather at a glance

Figures below are long-term averages from Climate-Data.org, as listed on Wikipedia. They are modelled averages, not forecasts, and other sources differ by a degree or two and by a good deal on rainfall.

Yearly rainfall on this dataset is about 1,532 mm. Another source, WeatherSpark, gives about 1,270 mm, but agrees that July is the wettest month and November the driest.

Winter: December to February

Days are cool at 12 to 14 degrees Celsius and nights are at or just below freezing in January. Rainfall is not low, and February is one of the wetter months in the table. Bring a proper jacket, and expect damp cold rather than dry cold. Frost on cars and roads is normal on winter mornings.

The city itself is not a ski or snow destination. The higher hill stations above it, such as Thandiani and Nathia Gali, are colder and more likely to see snow. Check our note on Thandiani before driving up after snowfall.

Spring: March to May

March and April are cool and wet, with March the wettest of the pre-monsoon months at about 209 mm. By May the highs reach 28 degrees and rain eases to about 91 mm, which makes May and early June some of the most comfortable weeks in the year. WeatherSpark points to mid-May to early June as one of its two best sightseeing windows.

Summer: June to August

June is the hottest month, with highs around 30 to 31 degrees, and the monsoon arrives in July. July and August are humid and wet, with 200 mm or more in each month on the Climate-Data figures. Rain can be heavy for short spells, and hill roads sometimes get landslides. Nights are pleasant at 17 to 20 degrees, which is why families come up from the plains.

For more on the season, see our post on the best time to visit Abbottabad and the notes on planning around the monsoon in our when to go guide.

Autumn: September to November

September is still warm, at around 26 degrees, and rain drops off sharply after the monsoon. October and November are the driest months, at about 47 mm each, with clear days and highs falling from 23 to 18 degrees. WeatherSpark lists mid-August to mid-October as its other best window for general tourism. Nights turn cold by November, so a light jacket is needed in the evening.

Which months suit which trip?

• Sightseeing in the city and short day trips: May, early June, late September and October. Days are dry enough and not hot.
• Escaping the heat of the plains: June to August, but plan for rain and carry an umbrella.
• Winter and snow at higher stations: December to February. The city is cold, and the snow is in the hills above it.
• Long drives: avoid the middle of July and August if you dislike wet mountain roads, and avoid early morning in winter if there is fog on the motorway.

Weather at the hill stations above Abbottabad differs from the city figures, usually by several degrees, so check Nathia Gali by month before you go up.

Is it worth going in any particular month?

It depends on what you want. If comfort matters most, go in May or October. If you want the greenest scenery, July and August are the lushest, but the rain is real and can cut days short. If you want quiet, January and February are the cold months and many visitors avoid them, though we have no visitor numbers to quote.

Whichever month you pick, check the forecast a few days before you set out. Pakistan Meteorological Department warnings for heavy rain in Hazara are worth reading in monsoon season.

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