Murree Snowfall: When It Snows and How to Plan a Snow Trip

Murree snowfall usually arrives between late December and February, in spells lasting a day or two, with January the most reliable month and occasional falls into March. How much falls varies hugely from year to year. Plan a snow trip around the forecast rather than the calendar: go a day or two after a spell, midweek if you can, with chains in the boot and a hotel already booked.

Snow is what makes Murree special for families from the plains, and it is also when the town is at its most dangerous. This guide covers when to expect it, how to read the warnings, what the police do to the roads, and how to enjoy it safely.

When does it snow in Murree?

Snow comes to Murree with western disturbances, the winter weather systems that move in from the west. A typical season has several distinct spells rather than steady snow: in January 2026, for example, the fourth spell of the winter was forecast by 27 January.

The pattern in recent winters shows how unpredictable it is:

• 2024–25: the first snowfall came on 23–24 December 2024, but the winter was so dry that the authorities declared the snowfall emergency season over on 28 February, with traders complaining of heavy losses.
• 2025–26: snow fell on 1 January 2026, closing the Expressway above Phulgran, and late January brought the heaviest snowfall in 20 years, with up to five feet reported in parts of Murree.

So any given week in January might bring nothing or a storm. Late December is possible but less reliable, and February can be excellent in a good year. Snow in March is less common, but it does happen.

The higher you go, the more snow there is, and the Galiyat ridge to the north usually gets more than the town: on 1 January 2026 Changla Gali had a foot of snow when most of the area had about ten inches.

How to read the forecast

You rarely need to guess. Snow in Murree is forecast, and the warnings are public.

1. Watch the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Before a snow spell it issues advisories naming Murree and the Galiyat, often several days ahead. On 17 January 2026 it forecast heavy snowfall for Murree and the Galiyat for the nights of 20 to 23 January, which is when the big storm came.
2. Look for the words "heavy snowfall" and "road closures." A light spell is a treat; a heavy one means closed roads, power cuts and a real chance of being stuck. In late January 2026 parts of Murree lost electricity and mobile internet was partly suspended.
3. Follow the Murree police and district administration. They announce closures, entry limits and hotel-booking rules, and the police's Safe Tourism app, launched in March 2026, carries live road, weather and parking updates.
4. Check the morning you leave. Roads open and close in phases as the ploughs work, so the situation at breakfast is what matters.

The single most useful rule: the best time to arrive is after the snow has fallen, not while it is falling. A day or two after a spell, the main roads are usually being cleared, the town is white, and you are not driving uphill in a blizzard behind thousands of other cars.

What happens to the roads

Since the storm of January 2022, entry to Murree in snow is tightly controlled.

• Vehicle limits. Cars are counted at the 17 Mile toll plaza and the police close the entry points when Murree reaches its safe capacity. During the January 2026 storm both the Expressway and the old road were closed to tourists at 17 Mile, and about 5,000 vehicles already in town had to be helped out.
• Hotel bookings. On 28 January 2026 the authorities allowed tourists in only if they could show a confirmed hotel booking.
• Expressway closures. On 1 January 2026 the Expressway was closed to general traffic from the Phulgran toll plaza up to Murree, open only to residents and emergency vehicles.
• Link roads close first. The Galiyat road towards Nathia Gali, and the smaller roads to hotels on the hillsides, often stay shut after the main roads reopen.
• Clearing. Snow-clearing machinery is stationed at points such as Jhika Gali, Kashmir Point, Pindi Point and Sunny Bank, and salt is spread on the main routes. Roads reopen in stages, not all at once.

For the routes themselves, and how long the drive takes in winter, see our guide to getting from Islamabad to Murree.

Chains, the car and what to carry

Snow chains

If you are not in a four-wheel drive, carry chains that fit your tyres, and practise putting them on at home before you need them on a cold, dark slope. Buy them in Islamabad or Rawalpindi; prices rise sharply in the hills once snow is falling. Fit them before a climb, not halfway up it, and take them off on cleared tarmac.

The car

• A full tank before you leave the plains. A jam in the snow can last hours.
• Good tyres and brakes, working lights and wipers, and antifreeze if your car needs it.
• Drive slowly in a low gear, especially downhill, and leave a long gap to the car in front.
• Never park on the main road or on slopes; the police impound cars and the ploughs need the space.

What to carry

• Warm coats, gloves, hats and waterproof shoes for everyone, kept in the car
• Blankets, food, water and any medicines, in case you are stuck on the road
• A charged phone and a power bank, since power and signal can fail
• A small shovel if you have one

The danger nobody expects: carbon monoxide

In the storm of 7 and 8 January 2022, more than 157,000 vehicles entered Murree, roads meant for a few thousand cars jammed solid, and 23 people died. Many of them died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their own cars, after snow blocked the exhaust while the engine ran for heat.

If you are stuck in snow:

• Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and check it every so often.
• Don't sit in a stationary car with the engine running and the windows sealed. Run the engine for short periods only, with a window slightly open.
• Use blankets and warm clothes rather than the heater to stay warm.
• Call 15 or 1122, and follow the police and rescue teams' instructions.

When does a snow trip become risky?

Snow in Murree is safe to enjoy with planning. It becomes risky in some clear situations, and in these we would change the plan:

• Heavy snowfall is forecast for your travel day. Wait until it has fallen and the roads are reopening.
• You have no hotel booking. Rooms go fast in snow, and driving around looking for one is how people end up sleeping in cars.
• It is the first weekend after the first snow. This is when the biggest crowds arrive, and when the roads are most likely to jam.
• You would be driving after dark. Ice forms on the roads in the evening, and visibility drops in falling snow.
• You have no chains, a low tank, or a car that struggles on steep hills. Many hotels are up short, steep side roads.
• The police say the road is closed. Turn back, whatever the navigation app says.

Take particular care with infants, older parents and anyone with a heart or lung condition. The cold, the slippery paths and a long wait in a stuck car are harder on them than on anyone else.

Enjoying the snow once you are there

With the car parked, a snow day in Murree is simple. Walk the Mall and up to Kashmir Point, and watch children near the edges of paths and on icy steps, which are more slippery than they look. The Patriata chairlift can stop in bad weather, so check before you drive over.

If Murree is closed or full, the Galiyat ridge and the valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have their own snow; our guide to snowfall places in KPK compares them. For the other seasons, see the best time to visit Murree, and if you would rather have someone else handle the winter driving, tell us your plans.

Frequently asked questions