Quetta has broken a 30-year cold weather record as temperatures plunged to an extreme minus 13 degrees Celsius, severely affecting daily life and basic services across the provincial capital and several parts of Balochistan.
According to meteorological officials, the intense cold followed rain and snowfall across the region, after which freezing Siberian winds began blowing from the evening and continued through the night. The harsh weather conditions pushed temperatures well below the freezing point, marking one of the coldest spells the city has witnessed in decades.
The extreme cold caused water to freeze in household tanks, pipelines, and taps, leaving residents struggling to access drinking and domestic water. Open areas, roadsides, and low-lying places also froze overnight, further complicating mobility and daily routines.
Experts confirmed that the current cold wave has surpassed the lowest temperatures recorded in the last 30 years. While the nighttime temperature dropped to minus 13°C, daytime temperatures remained as low as minus 9°C, with the “feels-like” temperature dropping to minus 12°C due to icy winds.
Besides Quetta, several regions including Qalat, Mastung, Surab, Ziarat, Kan Mehtarzai, Toba Kakari, and Toba Achakzai are experiencing similarly severe weather. These areas are traditionally known as Balochistan’s coldest zones, but the current conditions have exceeded seasonal norms.
The strong and persistent winds have disrupted routine life, especially during early morning and nighttime hours. The shortage of affordable fuel and alternative heating sources has further worsened the situation for residents, particularly low-income households.
Meanwhile, during last night’s snowfall, multiple families traveling toward Ziarat became stranded on snow-covered roads. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) responded promptly, deploying rescue teams and successfully evacuating all stranded individuals without any reported casualties.
Authorities have advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, protect water supply systems from freezing, and take precautionary measures against prolonged exposure to extreme cold. Meteorologists have warned that the cold spell may persist for the next few days, keeping temperatures below freezing across most parts of northern and central Balochistan.
