Quetta, Pakistan features a continental semi-arid climate with a large variation between summer and winter temperatures. However, Quetta does show some characteristics of a warm Mediterranean climate, though it receives too little precipitation for this classification. The highest temperature recorded in Quetta was on 10 July 1998. The lowest temperature in Quetta is which was recorded on 8 January 1970.
hSummer 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 decades of the month; however, there are chances of snow even in the last decade 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 decades 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.
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.