Why does Kabul sometimes receive heavy snowfall in winter?

Kabul experiences heavy snowfall in winter primarily due to its high elevation of 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) and the influence of specific weather patterns.12

During the winter and early spring, the city's climate is strongly affected by the interaction of two distinct air masses: cold air moving in from the north and Atlantic low-pressure systems arriving from the northwest. These systems bring significant snowfall to the highlands, including the capital, while simultaneously causing severe cold. This pattern is consistent with the broader climate of Afghanistan, which is characterized by cold winters and a semiarid continental environment in the Kabul region.12