Kathmandu, Dec. 5: The sky over Kathmandu, which remained cloudy on Monday, is expected to remain clear on Tuesday. According to meteorologists, the partial influence of westerly air in the vicinity of Uttar Pradesh, India, and the low-pressure status led to the cloudy weather on Monday. But they have expected an improvement in the weather conditions from Tuesday.
The meteorologists have forecasted that the sky will remain clear in Koshi, Sudurpaschim, Madhes, Lumbini and Gandaki Provinces. However, snowfall is likely in the higher-elevated and mountainous areas across the country, Shanti Kandel, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said. The temperature in the Kathmandu Valley reached its lowest point of the season on Sunday at 7.4 degrees Celsius. However, it increased to 7.7 degrees Celsius on Monday, marking the second-lowest temperature of the season.
“In a few places in the hilly regions of the country, there is a possibility of light rainfall. Similarly, there is a chance of light snowfall in some high-hilly and Himalayan regions. People living in those areas are urged to exercise caution as the precipitation, along with possible light snowfall, could affect the temperature pattern throughout the country,” Kandel said. Meanwhile, the highland areas of Karnali Province experienced the first snowfall of the year. Snowfall occurred in Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, and Kalikot of the province on Monday morning. However, Humla received the first snowfall of the season on Thursday last week.
While the Himalayan districts witnessed snow, Surkhet, Dailekh and Jajarkot received rainfall on Sunday and Monday. Following the snowfall, the winter chill has intensified. The snow has posed challenges to the general public, but farmers cultivating the crops have expressed satisfaction with the prospect of a successful harvest. According to our Dolpa Correspondent, the first snowfall of this year occurred in Upper Dolpa on Monday. It has been snowing since Monday morning. In Dolpobuddha Charkatangsong, She-Foksundo and Kaike Rural Municipality located on the northern border, life has become difficult after heavy snowfall.
Similarly, Jagdulla Rural Municipality in Lower Dolpa, Khaliwan Bantadi Hum in Tripurasundari Municipality, and other settlements also received snowfall. Deputy Superintendent of Police and Chief of the District Police Office Shiva Budhathoki said that snowfall occurred in Majhphal, Thargaon, Durgaon and Kandatali in Thuliberi Municipality.
The extreme cold resulting from the snowfall is causing difficulties for the elderly, women, and children. All schools in Upper Dolpa have been impacted by the snowfall, he informed.Meanwhile, the temperature of Dolpa has dropped to zero degrees Celsius. Although the snowfall has made life difficult, the farmers are happy because the snow that fell in November is considered auspicious and will help in the growth of crops and Yarsagumba.
Amar Singh Kathayat of Thuliberi Municipality-9 noted that although the snowfall has made life difficult for a few days, it would benefit crop and Yarsagumba growth.Jufal Airport is closed due to continuous rain, halting flights to Nepalgunj and Dolpa. Telephone services are disrupted as snowfall hampers the charging of the solar panels of Nepal Telecom towers.
According to the Humla correspondent, snowfall has started in Humla since Monday morning. Two-inch snow has been piled up in the district from Monday morning. The weather was clear throughout the night, but it started snowing in the morning when the weather worsened.
Chief of the Simkot Airport Mahendra Bahadur Singh informed that air services were also disrupted due to snowfall. Tara, Summit and Sita Air were scheduled to fly from Nepalganj to Simkot, but all the flights were cancelled after snowfall.While the travellers are saddened by this, the farmers have become happy.
According to our Mugu Correspondent, snowfall has started in the inner parts of the district, affecting normal life.Snowfall has prevented the sun from shining in Chhayanath Rara Municipality, Soru Rural Municipality, Khatyad Rural Municipality and Mugamkarmarong Rural Municipality.
Chayanath Rara Municipality has requested shepherds not to take their sheep to the lake for grazing.Chhayanath Rara Municipality Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham emphasised that the impact of cold weather was not limited to children, senior citizens were also equally affected. He advised that the elderly should stay indoors and recommended the use of warm clothing and regular consumption of hot water to combat the cold.
Jaya Lakshmi Malla from Chhayanath Rara Municipality-2 expressed the difficulty children face in attending school during cold weather. Dr. Karnaraj Bham from District Hospital Mugu highlighted the health risks associated with cold weather and urged people to take precautions. He said that cold weather has intensified the risk of pneumonia and other viral diseases. Likewise, Rara Lake is on the verge of freezing due to snowfall.With inputs from Bishnu Prasad Devkota (Dolpa), Rajan Rawat (Humla) and Harikrishna Aidi (Mugu).
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