When to go & weather

Weather

Kabul’s mountain location gives it a generally pleasant climate. Babur thought so too, noting that ‘within a day’s ride from Kabul it is possible to reach a place where snow never falls, but within two hours one can go where the snow never melts.’ Summer temperatures reach a maximum of around 33°C in August, although the high altitude means that nights are cold enough to warrant wearing an extra layer and a blanket on your bed. Temperatures drop to just below freezing between December and February, when there can be heavy snow. Heavy rain and snowmelt can cause problems for Kabul’s creaking infrastructure, and thick dust turns quickly to mud.

One drawback to Kabul’s mountain-fringed location is that dust and pollution is easily trapped in the atmosphere, reducing the air quality considerably.