Snow has fallen on the mountain peaks and in some high altitude villages in recent weeks, but the weather has generally been clear and dry, and without harsh cold spells.

The Oct. 8 earthquake in Pakistan killed more than 73,000 people and left three million homeless.

The Pakistani military and the international aid community have been rushing to help survivors, most of whom have stayed to try and rebuild their ruined homes in the mountains.

Bad weather could bring the whole relief operation to a halt, grounding helicopters and making many roads too dangerous to use, before survivors have proper shelter or sufficient food.

So far the mild weather and dry roads have enabled food to get in to difficult areas and many more survivors to build basic shelters, while only one full day of aid flights has been lost to bad weather.

"Had the winter set in when it was supposed to have set in, we would have had enormous problems with food come February," said Macleod. "The extra time has allowed a lot more to get done. We've had an extra four weeks of shelter rebuilds."

The United Nations says most of an estimated 500,000 people living above 5,000 feet (1,500 metres) have sufficient shelter and supplies to survive. Now efforts are focusing on the almost two million people below that altitude who need help.

Tens of thousands are living in tent camps where the good weather has also helped avoid diseases breaking out and sweeping through the packed settlements.

"WORST TO COME"

Though the worst fears of a second wave of death among sick, hungry and cold survivors have not materialised, Macleod cautioned against being complacent.

"One of the things we've got to be careful of is we don't lull ourselves into a false sense of security," he said.

Others agree. "It's been amazing," said UN logistics chief Natasha Hryckow who oversees the helicopter relief effort. "Only one whole day lost due to bad weather, but we haven't been tested yet."

Last year brought the heaviest snow in years, the worst of it falling late in the winter.

With that in mind, the World Food Programme is moving food into storage in the mountains before the weather cuts supply lines. Schools are being used for storage and the agency thinks it should be able to keep about one million people supplied.

But the weather is a huge danger to the distribution network.

"I think the worst is still to come," said Dina Jerkovich, who runs the WFP operation in Muzaffarabad.. "We've been lucky.

"We've had access by road, we've had access by air and we've been able to move things up but when the harsh winter comes, what happens then?" she asked.