Kathmandu, January 10

A thick haze resulting from lowering gap between maximum and minimum temperature and changing weather pattern blanketed the sky of the Kathmandu Valley on Sunday.

The haze resulted in reduced visibility in the city, blocking the sun’s rays and bringing more chill.

Meteorologist Mean Kumar Aryal at the Meteorological Forecasting Division said, “Gradual increase in minimum temperature and reduced gap between maximum and temperature contributed to the formation of haze over the Valley sky.

If there develops low medium cloud coupled with westerly winds and rainfall occurs, the sky would be clear. Favourable winds also help clear the haze.”

The average monthly rainfall in January is 14.4 mm in the Valley but it has no rain so far. Similarly, the average maximum and minimum temperature is 19.1 degree Celsius and 2.4 degree Celsius for this month respectively.

According to MFD, the minimum and maximum temperature recorded today was 18 degree Celsius and 3.5 degree Celsius respectively, which are equal to yesterday’s temperature.

An air traffic controller at the Tribhuban International Airport informed that an Oman Air flight was diverted to Lucknow of India at around 7:50 am after it could not land, causing one hour delay.

However, other domestic and international flights were not affected.