The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) recorded a minimum temperature of 0.0 degree Celsius Saturday morning. At 0.0 degree Celsius water starts changing from liquid to solid. [break]
This is the first time in the last two years that the Valley´s minimum temperature has plunged so low. Last winter, the minimum temperature was 0.5 degree Celsius, on January 10 and 14.
MFD has forecast the Valley´s minimum temperature at minus 1 degree Celsius for Sunday morning before sunrise. This is the first time this year that MFD has forecast minus zero weather.
"Since the rains last Monday, the Valley is getting colder by the day," said senior meteorologist Rajendra Shrestha. "And the minimum temperature is all set to plunge further Sunday morning."
Valley temperatures have not gone below zero degree since 2010. On January 12 that year, the minimum temperature was recorded at -0.2 degree Celsius. However, people did not feel too cold in the afternoon that day as maximum temperature exceeded 22.6 degrees.
On Saturday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 16.8 degrees, and people experienced biting cold almost throughout the day.
Weather experts say Saturday´s low temperature is somehow linked to Monday´s rains.
"Dark clouds over the Valley nearly disappeared following the rains. The weather has remained fair for the last few days and this has resulted in a strong north-westerly wind," Shrestha at MFD said. "If you´re out in the open, you can feel the strong wind."
The speed and intensity of the north-westerly, according to Shrestha, have caused a drastic drop in mercury. "If the weather continues fair, the mercury will plunge further," he said.
In cloudy weather, chances are there is no wind or only low wind. "There is no drastic drop in mercury in such weather even if the sun is elusive," Shrestha said.
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