When does winter start in Islamabad? In practice it begins around mid-November, when nights drop below 10°C, and the coldest weeks run from late December to the end of January. The calendar winter begins on 21 December, but by then the city has usually already been wearing jackets for a month. Daytime is mild and often sunny; the cold is mostly in the mornings and after dark.
This guide is about when the cold actually arrives, what each month feels like, when fog is likely, and how realistic the chance of snow is. If you are choosing dates for a wider trip, our when to go guide covers the rest of the country.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| First properly cool nights | Late October to mid-November (November mean low about 9°C) |
| Coldest month | January (mean low about 3.6°C, mean high about 17.7°C) |
| Fog season | Mostly mid-December to late January |
| Wettest winter months | February and March (roughly 90 to 95 mm each) |
| Record low | About minus 6°C (January) |
| Snow in the city | Very rare; light snow on the Margalla ridge only in cold spells |
Temperatures are long-term averages from the climate table on Wikipedia's "Climate of Islamabad" page. Any single year can run several degrees warmer or colder.
When does winter start in Islamabad?
There are three answers, and which one you want depends on why you are asking.
- Astronomical winter starts on the December solstice, 21 December or so.
- Meteorological winter is usually counted as December to February. The Pakistan Meteorological Department and most weather writers treat November to February as the cold season for the capital.
- The winter you feel begins when the evenings stop being warm. In Islamabad that is normally between late October and mid-November.
October is still warm: the average high is about 31°C and the average low about 16°C. November is the turning month. The average high is about 25°C but the average low falls to about 9°C, and the record low for the month is 0°C. That gap between a comfortable afternoon and a cold night is what most people mean when they say winter has arrived.
Islamabad weather month by month
These are long-term monthly averages for the capital, from October to March.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | about 31°C | about 16°C | about 34 mm |
| November | about 25°C | about 9°C | about 18 mm |
| December | about 20°C | about 5°C | about 26 mm |
| January | about 18°C | about 4°C | about 55 mm |
| February | about 20°C | about 7°C | about 93 mm |
| March | about 25°C | about 11°C | about 95 mm |
October: still summer in the afternoons
You can sit outside at midday in a shirt. Mornings and evenings become pleasant rather than hot, and this is when people start switching off the air conditioning. Not a winter month yet, but the first hint arrives in the last week.
November: the real turn
Carry a light jacket or a cardigan from the second week. Days remain sunny and dry, which makes November one of the best months to be in Islamabad for walking on the Margalla trails and sitting in the parks. Nights can be cold enough for a blanket, and the first mornings of ground fog appear late in the month in some years.
December: cold nights, short days
December is when a proper coat starts to make sense after sunset. The average low is about 5°C and the record low for the month is about minus 3°C. Daylight is short, so the day feels shorter than the temperature suggests. Fog begins to settle in the second half of the month.
January: the coldest month
January has the lowest averages (about 4°C at night, about 18°C by day) and the record low of roughly minus 6°C. Cold snaps come with western disturbances, the rain-bearing systems that sweep in from the west, and a wet, grey week can feel colder than the thermometer says. Most winter rainfall in Islamabad comes with them.
February: wetter, then warmer
February is the wettest of the winter months on average, at about 93 mm, and can still throw up cold nights, with a record low of about minus 5°C. By the last week the days are noticeably warmer and the first blossom appears in the city's parks.
Fog in Islamabad
Fog is a bigger practical issue than the cold. It forms at night and in the early morning from November to February, and is heaviest and most persistent from mid-December to late January. On some mornings visibility drops close to zero, which affects road traffic and flights.
If you are travelling in those weeks:
- Flights into and out of Islamabad can be delayed by morning fog. Avoid tight connections on the same day as an early flight.
- Motorway and highway driving is riskier before mid-morning. Leave after the fog has lifted, and expect sections to be slow or restricted when visibility is poor.
- Northern trips should not depend on a first-thing start from Islamabad in January.
Fog tends to burn off by late morning, and afternoons are often bright.
Does it snow in Islamabad?
Almost never in the city itself. Snow in Islamabad is a rare event that gets national news coverage. The Wikipedia climate page notes notable instances in January 1964 and February 1984, and there have been occasional dustings on the higher Margalla ridge and at Pir Sohawa in the years since, usually after a hard cold spell in December, January or February.
Do not plan a trip around it. Around the end of 2025 there were social media rumours of snow on Tilla Charni, the highest point of the Margalla range, and the Pakistan Meteorological Department dismissed them as speculation. Long-term PMD data analysed for Dawn in 2026 also suggests Islamabad's winters are getting shorter and warmer in the daytime, and older residents say snow on the Margallas was seen far more regularly in the 1980s.
If you want snow within a few hours of the capital, the reliable options are further up. Our guides to Murree snowfall and where to see snow in Pakistan explain when and where it usually falls.
What to wear and pack
You do not need mountain gear for Islamabad itself. Dress in layers, because the difference between noon and 8 pm is large.
- A warm jacket or coat for December and January, and a lighter jacket in November and February
- A scarf and a cap for early mornings and for evenings on the Margalla hills
- Warm socks and closed shoes; roads and trails are damp after rain
- An umbrella or a compact rain jacket, mostly for January to March
- Moisturiser and lip balm, since winter air is dry
Older buildings and many guesthouses have no central heating. Check whether your hotel has room heaters before you book, and see our note on gas heater safety in hotels if you will be using one.
Picking your dates by what you want
- Mild weather for sightseeing: the first three weeks of November, and the second half of February. Dry days, cool evenings, little fog.
- Cold, crisp days and a winter feel: the first half of December, before the fog settles in.
- Rain and grey skies: January to March bring most of the rainfall, so expect at least one wet spell and keep some indoor plans, such as the museums, in reserve.
- Warmth on a winter trip: the March average high is about 25°C, so a trip at the very end of the season feels like spring rather than winter.
Is winter a good time to visit Islamabad?
For most visitors, yes, with the exception of the foggiest fortnight. November and February are the most comfortable months of the year in the capital, and even December and January are perfectly usable if you accept cold mornings. Sightseeing, the Faisal Mosque, the Margalla trails and the food streets are all better in cool weather than in the June heat.
It suits families with a flexible schedule, walkers and photographers who like clear winter air after rain. It suits less well anyone flying out on a fixed day in late December or January, or anyone hoping for snow in the city. If that is you, build in a spare day at each end of the trip, and use the capital as a base for a proper snow trip north.
Our best time to visit Islamabad and Islamabad weather by month pages cover the year as a whole.
Frequently asked questions
When does winter start in Islamabad?
Nights turn properly cold from about mid-November, and the coldest period is late December to January. The astronomical start is 21 December, but most people feel winter arriving in November.
What is the coldest month in Islamabad?
January. The long-term average is about 18°C by day and about 4°C at night, with a record low of about minus 6°C.
Does it snow in Islamabad?
Very rarely. Notable snowfalls in the city are remembered by year, and light snow on the Margalla ridge only follows a hard cold spell. Do not plan a trip around it.
When is fog worst in Islamabad?
Mainly mid-December to late January, in the night and early morning. It can cut visibility close to zero and delay flights and road traffic until late morning.
Is November cold in Islamabad?
Cool rather than cold. Afternoons average about 25°C, but the average night low is around 9°C, so you want a light jacket for mornings and evenings.
