Rain with thunder likely today, tomorrow

Kathmandu, Mar. 14: The Kathmandu Valley on Monday received rainfall. It was the third rainfall in Kathmandu this winter. However, the rains earlier this month were not enough even to kill dust. 

The last time Kathmandu received rainfall was in October 2022. A long spell of drought lasting for over five months has caused dust in Kathmandu and other cities while it has led to fire incidents in the Terai. The rain is expected to reduce the problems of drought and forest fires.

The country is forecast to receive light to moderate showers with thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the general influence of westerly winds. Light to moderate rain is expected for Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Meteorological Forecasting Division.

According to Govinda Jha, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, there will be cloud cover in the hilly and mountainous areas with rainfall and thunderstone in Gandaki, Karnali and Sudur Paschhim Provinces and fairly cloud cover in the rest of the country. 

Occasional and light rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur in a few places, mostly Koshi and Bagmati’s hilly areas on Wednesday, he said.

According to Jha, light to moderate rainfall in the evening and cloud cover in the afternoon is a usual phenomenon during the pre-monsoon season. 

The pre-monsoon season started on March 1 and is expected to give some relief to the farmers as they have been waiting for rainfall for the past five months. 

During this pre-monsoon season, evening rainfall is a natural phenomenon as the heat from the early morning will help warm the earth’s surface to develop moisture which later develops clouds causing light to moderate rainfall in the evening. Again, the weather remains clear within three to four hours after the showers, Jha said.

Dr. Binod Pokharel, Associate Professor at the Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Tribhuvan University, said that Monday’s was the first good rainfall in Kathmandu after a long drought. “This rainfall might give some relief to the farmers and help in controlling air pollution and forest fires,” he said. 

According to Dr. Pokharel, this is a pre-monsoon phenomenon. As the temperature rises, the westerly brings more moisture into the country, causing rainfall. 

Barun Poudel, a senior meteorologist at DHM, said that the Kathmandu Valley received sporadic rainfall with thunderstorm on Monday afternoon. Dhading received 12 mm of rainfall, Dolakha 6 mm, Solukhumbu 5 mm, Pokhara 4 mm and Kathmandu 2 mm in the last 24 hours, according to Poudel.

As there will be rainfall with lightning and thunderstorm on Tuesday and Wednesday, the DHM asked people to take necessary precautions to escape from the possible risk.