Key Takeaways:

• Tourism Department warns of heavy rain snowfall and avalanche risks
• Trekkers and climbers advised to avoid high-altitude travel
• Severe weather expected from October 29 through November 1
• Hospitals in mountain regions urged to remain fully prepared

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 29 Nepal's Tourism Department has urged trekkers, climbers and expedition support staff to exercise extreme caution as a spell of severe weather is expected to bring heavy rain, snowfall, snowstorms and avalanche risks across several mountain regions through Sunday. In a safety notice issued Wednesday, the department warned that adverse weather could disrupt trekking and climbing routes while raising the risk of floods, landslides and soil erosion in lower areas and heavy snowfall and avalanches in the high Himalayas. The alert follows forecasts from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology that Cyclone Arnab and associated weather systems could trigger heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds between October 28 and November 1. Authorities have advised tourists to avoid travelling to high-altitude areas during the warning period. Those already in mountain regions have been urged to closely monitor official forecasts and adjust travel and expedition plans accordingly. The advisory comes at the height of Nepal's autumn trekking and climbing season, when large numbers of trekkers, guides and mountaineers are already in destinations such as Khumbu, Manang and other Himalayan regions. The department has also asked hospitals and health facilities in mountain districts, as well as major treatment centres in Kathmandu and Pokhara, to ensure uninterrupted medical services for trekkers and climbers, including those suffering from acute mountain sickness.