Quetta Snowfall: When and Where to See It

Quetta snowfall comes between December and February, with January the snowiest month on the 1991 to 2020 climate record and February not far behind. It is not reliable: some winters bring a foot of snow in a day, and several recent winters have brought none to the city at all. The hills and passes around Quetta, and the road to Ziarat in particular, see far more snow and far more disruption.

This guide separates what happens in the city from what happens on the higher ground around it, gives the figures, and covers what that means for winter travel.

Does it snow in Quetta city?

Yes, but not every year. Quetta sits in a valley at about 1,680 metres with a cold, semi-arid climate. Winter runs from late November to late February, with average temperatures around 4 to 5 C and January nights below freezing.

The long-term averages look generous: about 22 cm of snow in January, 17 cm in February and 14 cm in December. Those averages hide how uneven it is. Reference records describe the city's snowfall as erratic. Quetta had no snow during the drought of 1999 to 2001, none in 2006, 2007 or 2009, and none in the winter of 2010. Then a single system can make up for it: on 29 January 2008 the city had 10 cm in four hours, and on 2 February 2008 about 25 cm fell in ten hours, its heaviest fall in a decade.

In the winter of 2025 to 2026 the first snow did not reach the city until 22 January, ending a long dry spell. So if seeing snow in Quetta itself is the goal, treat any fixed dates as a gamble. Watch the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast for a western disturbance and travel when one is due, not on a date picked months ahead.

Where is snow more reliable?

Quetta is ringed by mountains, and the higher ground gets considerably more snow than the valley floor.

• Hanna Lake and Urak valley. The closest option, 13 to 28 km east of the city at the foot of the Zarghoon range, and the usual half-day outing after a snowfall. See our Hanna Lake and Urak valley guides.
• Zarghoon and Chiltan. Koh-i-Zarghoon, north-east of the city, rises to about 3,550 metres and is the highest ground in Balochistan. Its upper slopes hold snow after the city has cleared.
• Ziarat. About 125 km and two to two and a half hours from Quetta, at 2,543 metres in the juniper forest. It is the most dependable place in the province for deep snow. See our Ziarat snowfall guide and the Quetta to Ziarat distance guide.
• Khojak Pass. About 103 km north-west on the road to Chaman, at 2,290 metres. It gets heavy snow and bitter wind, but it is a border road with its own security concerns, covered in our Khojak Pass guide.
• Kan Mehtarzai. On the Zhob road beyond Kuchlak, about 16 miles before Muslim Bagh. Its old narrow-gauge station, at 2,224 metres, was the highest in Pakistan until the line closed in 1986. It is known locally for heavy snow, but it is a long drive on an exposed highway and not one to attempt casually.

What snow does to the roads

Winter snow around Quetta is not only scenery. The storm of 22 and 23 January 2026 is a fair example of a bad spell. Dawn reported heavy rain and snow blocking the major highways and cutting off the provincial capital. The Express Tribune reported dozens of vehicles stranded on the Quetta to Ziarat highway, more than 100 tourists stuck in and around Chaman, nine separate accidents on the N-50 that injured 27 people, and a pile-up near Shela Bagh that killed two. The temperature at Khojak Top fell to minus 12 C. Authorities barred tourists from travelling to Ziarat for 24 hours, and the Ziarat roads were reported clear again by 28 January.

The Quetta to Ziarat and Quetta to Chaman roads are affected like this most winters, sometimes for a day, sometimes for several. The common pattern is that people set off after the first photographs appear online, the snow keeps falling, and the road closes behind them.

How to see snow safely

• Check road conditions on the day, not the day before. Conditions change within hours.
• Don't drive into an active snowstorm. Wait in Quetta until the ploughs have been through.
• Start early and be back before dark. Meltwater refreezes on the road as soon as the sun goes.
• Watch for black ice on bridges and shaded bends, which stays after the snow has stopped.
• Fill the tank and carry blankets, food and water, in case of a long wait on the road.
• Dress for well below freezing. The city averages minus 2 C on a January night, and the passes are much colder.
• Keep a spare day. A closed road usually reopens within a day or two; our Quetta weather guide has the month-by-month picture.

Is Quetta safe to visit in winter?

Separately from the weather, Quetta is in Balochistan, and the UK government advises against all travel to the whole province. Pakistani visitors travel to Quetta and Ziarat through the winter. Check current local advice and news before you go, stay on the main roads, and avoid driving after dark. Foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice, since travelling against it can void insurance. Our guide on whether Quetta is safe to visit has more.

Is it worth travelling for?

If you live in Quetta or are there anyway, a snow day at Hanna Lake or Urak is easy and costs almost nothing. If you are thinking of flying or driving in from Karachi or Punjab specifically for snow, Ziarat is the better target, and even then only with flexible dates and a spare day. For a planned family snow trip with fixed leave, the Galiyat or Malam Jabba are more predictable. Our guide to where to see snow in Pakistan compares them.

Frequently asked questions