Nathia Gali weather in December is cold, dry and mostly clear, with daytime highs of about 7 to 11 °C and nights around freezing or a few degrees below it. Snow falls in most Decembers, but usually as one or two light falls rather than a deep cover, and in some years the first proper snow only arrives in January.
That makes December a good month for crisp, quiet days in the forest and a poor one to bank on snow. This guide gives the December figures, how the month changes from start to finish, what recent Decembers actually brought, and what the roads and the New Year rush are like.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 2,410 m |
| Average high | About 7 to 11 °C (see sources below) |
| Average low | About −1 to 1 °C; coldest nights near −9 °C |
| Precipitation | Light: roughly 35 to 70 mm in the month |
| Snow | Usually some, often light; heavy falls are more likely in January and February |
| Daylight | Sunrise about 6:55 to 7:10 am, sunset about 5:00 pm |
| Busiest days | The last week of December and New Year's Eve |
Weather now in Nathia Gali 2,410 m
Live weather loads here.
When it snows: Mainly December to February; possible in November and early March. More on the seasons
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), updated every 30 minutes. Mountain weather changes fast: check again before you set off.
What is the weather like in Nathia Gali in December?
There is no long public weather record for Nathia Gali itself, so we use two sources and show both.
- Murree, on the same ridge about 120 m lower. Its December normals (NOAA, 1961 to 1990, via Wikipedia) are an average high of 10.9 °C, an average low of 1.0 °C and 70 mm of precipitation. The coldest December night on that record was −10.5 °C.
- Open-Meteo's historical weather data for Nathia Gali's own grid point, at 2,429 m. Averaged over the ten Decembers from 2016 to 2025, this modelled record gives a high of about 7 °C, a low of about −1 °C and around 35 mm of rain and snow.
The model runs colder and drier than the old Murree normals, partly because it is set higher and partly because recent Decembers have been dry. The honest answer is somewhere between the two: days that feel cold even in sunshine, frost on about half the nights, and very little rain.
What the numbers do not show is the wind on the ridge and how fast it cools once the sun drops behind the hills. By 4 pm the shade is bitter.
How does December change from start to finish?
The month gets steadily colder. In the Open-Meteo record, the first half of December averages a high of 7.6 °C and a low just below zero, while the second half averages 6.9 °C and −1.2 °C. It is a small shift on paper, but late December nights are the ones that freeze water in the pipes.
Days are short throughout. Sunrise moves from about 6:53 am on 1 December to 7:11 am on the 31st, and sunset sits around 5 pm all month, so you have roughly ten hours of light. Plan walks such as the Pipeline Track for the late morning and early afternoon, and be back before the light goes.
For how December compares with November before it and the snowier months after it, see our Nathia Gali weather by month guide.
Does it snow in Nathia Gali in December?
Usually yes, but not much, and not on a date you can book around. Open-Meteo's modelled record shows at least one day with a centimetre or more of snow in eight of the last ten Decembers (2016 to 2025). The two exceptions were 2016 and 2023, both very dry months. In the snowy years the month's total ranged from about 2 cm to 20 cm, with the most in 2017 and 2020. That is a dusting to a modest cover, not deep drifts.
| December | Avg high | Avg low | Rain and snow | Snow days (1 cm or more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 10.6 °C | −4.3 °C | 18 mm | None |
| 2017 | 6.8 °C | 0.2 °C | 68 mm | 11 to 13 Dec |
| 2018 | 5.7 °C | −0.3 °C | 33 mm | 9 and 10 Dec |
| 2019 | 5.9 °C | −0.3 °C | 27 mm | 11 to 13 Dec |
| 2020 | 4.8 °C | −1.8 °C | 77 mm | 11, 12, 27 and 29 Dec |
| 2021 | 5.4 °C | −0.9 °C | 46 mm | 14 and 27 Dec |
| 2022 | 7.3 °C | 0.7 °C | 22 mm | 29 Dec |
| 2023 | 8.5 °C | 1.0 °C | 5 mm | None |
| 2024 | 7.0 °C | −2.6 °C | 11 mm | 11 Dec |
| 2025 | 10.1 °C | 1.4 °C | 38 mm | 22 Dec |
Modelled data for Nathia Gali from Open-Meteo's historical weather archive, rounded. A model can miss a local flurry or overstate a light one, so treat the snow column as a guide.
News reports from the last two winters match that pattern:
- December 2024: the Associated Press of Pakistan reported the season's first snowfall in the Galiyat on 8 December, and light snow again on 23 December, with Rescue 1122 on alert.
- December 2025: a Met Office forecast of weekend snow drew thousands of visitors on 20 December, but they mostly found cold drizzle. Light snow followed in the last week of the month, and the first proper fall, about eight inches in Nathia Gali, came on New Year's night (The Nation).
So if a white December is the whole point, watch the forecast and be ready to go at a few days' notice rather than fixing dates in October. Our Nathia Gali in winter guide covers January and February, when deep snow is more likely.
What are the roads like in December?
On a dry December day the roads from Murree and from Abbottabad are clear and the drive is normal, apart from ice in the shaded bends early in the morning. The trouble comes with the first snow of the season, for two reasons: many drivers have not driven on snow since last winter, and a snow forecast fills the ridge road with cars from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Punjab within hours.
From mid-December, drive as if snow could come:
- Carry snow chains that fit your tyres and practise fitting them at home.
- Drive up in daylight and aim to be parked by 3 pm, before the shaded stretches refreeze.
- Keep the tank full and carry water, dry food and blankets.
- Turn back if the police or district administration close the road, however close you are.
- Never sit in a stuck car with the engine running if snow may have blocked the exhaust. In the Murree snowstorm of January 2022, 23 people died in cars trapped on the roads.
Our guide to driving in Galiyat snow goes through chains, braking and parking in more detail.
Is Nathia Gali busy at Christmas and New Year?
Yes. The last week of December is one of the busiest weeks of the winter, because the 25 December public holiday falls around the start of the school winter break and many families want a New Year's Eve in the hills. In late December 2025, The Nation reported hotels fully booked across Ayubia, Changla Gali, Khanspur, Thandiani and Nathia Gali over the weekend.
If you are coming then:
- Book your room early and confirm the heating, hot water and whether there is a generator for power cuts.
- Arrive on a weekday if you can. The day before a long weekend is far worse than the day after.
- Expect parking to be the hard part. Leave the car at the hotel and walk in the bazaar.
- Leave on New Year's Day afternoon, not the morning, when the queue down to Murree is at its longest, or stay an extra night.
The first two weeks of December are much quieter, and rooms are far easier to find.
What should you pack for December?
- A proper winter coat, thermal layers, a woollen hat and gloves
- Waterproof boots with a good grip; paths are icy in the shade even without fresh snow
- Warm night clothes and thick socks; rooms cool quickly during power cuts
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for bright days and snow glare
- A torch or power bank, since it is dark by 5 pm
Is December a good time to visit Nathia Gali?
It suits couples and families who want cold, clear days, forest walks with few people and a fire in the evening, and who will be happy whether or not it snows. Early December in particular is calm and easy.
It suits fewer people if snow is the only aim. January and February give far better odds of a real snowfall. If you want a dry, mild trip instead, November is brighter and less cold; see our Nathia Gali in November guide. For the wider picture across the north, see when to go, and check the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast a few days before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
What is the temperature in Nathia Gali in December?
Daytime highs are about 7 to 11 °C and nights hover around freezing, dropping to several degrees below zero on clear nights. The lower figures come from Open-Meteo's recent record for Nathia Gali, the higher ones from the long-term Murree normals.
Will there be snow in Nathia Gali in December 2026?
No one can say months ahead. In eight of the last ten Decembers there was at least some snow, but often only a light fall, so plan around the forecast in the final week before you travel.
Is Nathia Gali colder than Murree in December?
Slightly. Nathia Gali is about 120 m higher on the same ridge, so it runs a little colder and holds snow and ice for longer.
Do I need snow chains for Nathia Gali in December?
On a dry day, no. From mid-December carry chains in case snow arrives during your stay, and fit them before the steep stretches if the road is white.
Is Nathia Gali crowded on New Year's Eve?
Very. Hotels across the Galiyat fill up in the last week of December, so book ahead, arrive on a weekday and expect slow traffic on New Year's Day.
Is December or January better for snow in Nathia Gali?
January, and February after it. December snow is usually light and some years bring none until the New Year.
