Quetta, Pakistan features a continental semi-arid climate with a large variation between summer and winter temperatures. The highest temperature recorded in Quetta was on 10 July 1998. The lowest temperature in Quetta is , which was recorded on 8 January 1970.
Summer starts in late May and continues until early September, with average temperatures ranging from to . Autumn starts in late September and continues until mid-November, with average temperatures of to . Winter starts in late November and ends in late March, with average temperatures near to . Spring starts in early April and ends in late May, with average temperatures close to . Unlike most of Pakistan, however, Quetta does not have a monsoon of sustained, heavy rainfall. The highest rainfall during a 24-hour period is recorded on 17 December 2000; the highest monthly rainfall is , which was recorded in March 1982; and the highest annual rainfall recorded is in 1982. A lot of precipitation in winter is snow, falling mostly in December, January and February.
Monthly climate cycle The monthly breakup of the weather in Quetta is as follows:
January January is the coldest month in Quetta, and Western Disturbance causes rainfall with occasional snowfall in the city. The highest temperature on record on 28 January 1987; and the lowest temperature is , recorded on 8 January 1970. The highest monthly rainfall recorded was in 1982; while the most rain in a 24-hours period was on 30 January 1982.
January is the most probable month for snow. Western disturbances are at the peak of their season, and the combination of wintriness makes this month most suitable for the season's heavy snow. All the decades of this month are crucial for the snow to fall. During the past years, the city have seen some record snowfalls during this month. On 14 and 15 January 2017 Quetta received heaviest snow of last 10 years with 2 feet of snow recorded in some areas.
February The weather in February is somewhat similar to that of January: generally cold, with Western Disturbance causing rains and snowfall. The highest temperature ever recorded was on 16 February 2002, and lowest temperature was on 1 February 1970. While the highest monthly rainfall is in 1982; The heaviest rainfall in 24 hours was on 17 February 2003.
On 28 February 2011 heavy hailstorms lashed the valley followed by heavy rainfall. A total of of rainfall was recorded during February 2011, which is the third-highest rain in February after the record of rain in 1982 and in 2003.
The probability of falling snow in this month is high; every year the city receives light to moderate snow during the month mostly during the first two weeks of the month; however, there are chances of snow even in the last week of the month.
March March is the wettest month of the city, and remains cool, but towards the end of the month becomes warmer. Western Disturbances continues to affect the weather, producing hailstorms and causing rains with strong winds, and the chances of snowfall on the mountains around the city, and occasional chances of snowfall in the city mostly during the first three weeks of the month. The likelihood of thunderstorms is very high during the month, with the possibility of some incredible thunders in the city followed by heavy downpour.
On 8 March 2007 light snowfall occurred in the city. The highest temperature for the month of March was on 31 March 2018, while the lowest was on 12 March 1973. The highest monthly rainfall recorded was in 1982; the heaviest rain in a 24-hour period was on 31 March 1985. A western wave entered Balochistan on 2 March 2019 which caused flash flooding in the province including Quetta the city which received 137 mm of rain along with snowfall recorded 4 cm. On 1 March 2024 A Cold Front With Western Disturbance Continues to effect Quetta city cause 9mm of rain along with light snowfall from 2 March night till 3 March Night Temperature Drop to minus -5.2 recorded on Personal Weather Station In Eastern Bypass Area..
April Thunderstorms persist during the first decade of the month, and continue intermittently during the second and third decades. The weather in April is similar to the weather of March. The highest temperature recorded was on 27 April 1979, and lowest temperature was on 2 April 1965. The highest monthly rainfall was in 1992. the heaviest rainfall in a 24-hour period was on 12 April 1983.
In April 2011, Quetta saw two major wet spells, the first one commenced from 7 to 12 April, while the second one started from 14 to 17 April intermittently. During the period, the city was battered by heavy rainfalls and thunderstorms. On 16 April, lightning killed one person and injured three persons near Pashtoon street in Brawrey. In April 2011, Quetta received of rain, which is highest monthly rainfall in April since 2000. In 2024, strong western disturbances continued to affect North Balochistan including Quetta which lead to a new highest monthly rainfall record of 188.6mm. A western Disturbance Cause Rains Along With Hails From 12 To 15 April And Lead to New 24 Hours High Rain Record of 59.2mm on 14/04/2024 on PWS in Eastern Bypass Quetta
May In May, the weather becomes hotter. The highest temperature was on 11 May 2000, and the lowest was on 3 May 1989. Humidity levels decline as compared to other months. The highest monthly rainfall recorded was in 1963; and the heaviest rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period was on 25 May 2003. On 2 May 2005, a storm covered the entire city with a blanket of dust that lasted for many days.
June In June, temperatures continue to increase. Temperatures can reach , with the highest on record at on 4 June 2005, and on four other occasions. The lowest temperature was on 14 June 1979.
In 2007, Cyclone Yemyin hit the coastal areas of Balochistan, and caused rains in most parts of the province, including Quetta producing a record breaking of rain between 22 June to 30. The heaviest rainfall in a 24-hour period of was recorded on 29 June 2007.
On 27 June 2016 a cloudburst occurred in the afternoon. As a result of this cloudburst 50 mm (Quetta Samungli) rain fell in one and a half-hour with big size hail stones, while 8 mm was recorded at Quetta (Sheikh Manda).
July July is the hottest month in Quetta. Since Quetta lies partially outside the belt of the monsoon, the effect thereof is seldom visible in the city. However, sometimes if monsoon gets strong enough, then Quetta can also have some rains. The highest temperature recorded in the month was in July 2014, while the lowest temperature was on 11 July 1977. and the highest rainfall for this month is in 1978;
On 14 July 2006 a severe dust storm hit the Quetta valley for three consecutive days, reducing visibility to less than a kilometer. Again on 23 July 2007, another dust storm enveloped the city and its surroundings, reducing visibility to less than a kilometer but also affected both air and vehicle traffic.
August August is also a hot month in Quetta, with a highest temperature recorded of on 9 August 1970; conversely the lowest temperature was on 29 August 1972. The heaviest monthly rainfall recorded was in 2022, when it continuously rained heavily for 30 hours on 25 and 26 of the month cutting off the city from the rest of the country, the whole city went into total blackout and was left in the rain without proper gas supply. The heavy rainfall resulted in major flooding taking down with it multiple lives and their precious homes and livestock. The heaviest rainfall in 24 hours was on 3 August 1983. On 6 August 2013 a severe rain storm with heavy downpour lash Quetta city, consequently at least two people died while several houses damaged in Nawan Kali area of the city, dozens of mud houses were destroyed in the rain while several trees and signboards were uprooted. Moreover, at least five people, including three kids, sustained injuries when roof of a house collapsed. City roads were submerged under rain water caused severe traffic jams. Meanwhile, 220 kV transmission line tripped due to heavy rain and storm, disrupting electricity to 17 districts of the province including Quetta. According to Pakistan Meteorological Department of rainfall was recorded during one and half-hour rainfall.
September In September, the weather remains hot, but gets cooler towards the last week of the month. It is one of the driest months in the city. The highest recorded temperature was on 16 September 2016, and lowest was on 30 September 1962. with the heaviest rainfall for a 24-hour period standing at on 5 September 1994. On 8 September 2008, a dust storm covered the entire city, and lasted for many days.
In 2011, a spell of monsoon rains produced widespread heavy rains in Sindh and northeastern parts of Balochistan. The weather system produced unusual record breaking rains in Quetta that broke the record for highest monthly rainfall of , recorded in 1994. On 3 September, rain was recorded again on 5 September, of rain was recorded. In September 2011, of rain was recorded.
October October is the driest month in the city, with a record highest monthly rainfall of in 1982; and a 24-hour record of on 19 October 1982. The highest and lowest temperatures are on 1 October 1998 and on 27 October 1964, respectively. In October 2011 the city received its second highest rainfall of .
November Winter begins in November, as the Western Disturbance returns with rain and possibly snow over the mountains. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded for the month were on 3 November 1998 and on 30 November 1964, respectively. On 14 November 2008, the minimum temperature recorded was as the Quetta valley, and major parts of Balochistan, were in the grip of a cold front for several days.
The heaviest rainfall recorded was for a 24-hour period on 16 November 2003. While the heaviest rainfall for the month was in 2006;
December December is typically a chilly month. Western Disturbances begin to cause rain and snowfall. The heaviest rainfall for the month was in 1982;, and the heaviest rainfall for 24-hours was recorded at on 17 December 2000. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded were on 14 December 1970 and on 12 December 1964, respectively.
December is the wettest month of the city during the winter season. The rainfall intensity gains strength during the last third of the month, but rainfall may occur earlier. There are fair chances of snowfall most probably during the last third. Light snowfall occurred on 9 December 2015 in Quetta.
In 2010, Quetta saw its record lowest monthly mean minimum for December since 2000 of . The severe cold wave started on 28 November 2010 and continued till 17 January 2011. Pakistan Meteorological Department had forecasted in their Weather Advisory that during the coming period, mercury level may reach . However at the peak of the severe cold wave the temperature dropped to for consecutive four days, from 9 to 12 December 2010. On the whole the temperature ranges between to during the severe cold wave.
Cold front Quetta is one of the coldest places in Balochistan and Pakistan. The lowest temperature of in the history of Quetta was recorded on 8 January 1970. Every year during winter season temperatures reaches near , while temperatures below are not uncommon. For many consecutive years, the city had experienced a temperature below several times.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department's recording of severe cold weather since 1960 are recorded below: