Winter makes early entry with rainfalls, snow

KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Dipping temperatures and rainfalls across the country have signaled the early onset of winter in Nepal is just around the corner. Declining temperatures even resulted in mild to heavy snowfall in the western Himalayan region on Thursday.

With December, which marks as the beginning of winter in Nepal, still a month away, moderate rainfalls have been observed in central and western regions of Nepal on Thursday.Weather experts have attributed the current weather condition to the low pressure depression formed above the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh and the Arabian Sea.

According to Samir Shrestha, rainfall in post-monsoon period is not rare, but the intensity was heavier than expected.

"The low pressure depression formed on the Indian side released heavy gust of moisture that floated inside Nepal and ended in rainfall. The temperature has definitely gone down and slight snowfall has been observed in the Himalayan range," said Shrestha.

He said the weather will improve in Kathmandu and the western region from tomorrow.

"In addition to that low depression, a mild cyclone has formed above the Arabian Sea and that it is pushing the moisture toward eastern Nepal," said Shrestha.

Although the maximum temperature was hovering around 25.5 degree Celsius in Kathmandu until a few days ago, the mercury level dipped to 14 degree Celsius on Thursday.

As per the record of Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) of DHM, Kathmandu has experienced at least one degree Celsius of temperature over a weak.

"The presence of thick clouds has prevented the temperature from sliding further. If the thick clouds formed above the valley wither away, temperature will decline further," explained Shrestha.

Meanwhile, heavy snowfall has largely affected the normal lives in Jumla district on Thursday. Thick blanket of snow has settled at Dillichowr, Chumchaur, Patarashi, Ghotichaur, Botamalika, Malikatha, Ghodemahadev and Thamti VDC.

According to Ramsari Thapa of Patmara VDC-9, snow blocks nearly a feet tall have formed in the affected Village Development Committees.

"This year snow came nearly a month ahead of the regular timing. People have great difficulty walking out of their homes as trails remain covered under the snow," said Thapa.

Snowfall has also disrupted flights in and out of the district and forced schools to shut down.

"Not just people even our cattle have suffered under the harsh weather. They have not been able to graze because of extreme cold," said Jaypati Buda of Buramdichaur VDC.

(With inputs from DB Buda of Jumla)

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