KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Valley witnessed mercury plummeting to 1.2°C at 3 on Friday morning, making it the coldest morning so far this winter. The maximum temperature recorded on the day, however, was 16.5 °C, according to the Government of Nepal's Meteorological Forecasting Division. The temperature dropped to 9.8°C at 5:45 pm. Temperatures went below zero in the mountainous districts with Jumla recording -7.5°C, Jomsom of Mustang -6.0°C and Jiri of Dolakha district -4.0°C this morning. The MFD has expected the temperature to remain 1-3 °C in the Kathmandu Valley tonight, and maximum temperature 15- 17 °C tomorrow. Met officials have forecast a partly cloudy night in the western hilly region and mainly fair in the rest of the country. Isolated brief rain is likely to occur at one or two places of the western hilly region tonight, the MFD said in its website. Climate data for the month of January Average Maximum Temperature: 19.1°C Average Minimum Temperature: 2.4°C Average Monthly Rainfall: 14.4 mm Extreme Maximum Temperature: 27.4°C, January 31, 2001 Extreme Minimum Temperature: -3.5°C, January 11, 1978 Extreme Rainfall in 24 hours: 62 mm, January 16, 1996 Total rainfall till date in January: 0.10 mm

Source: MFD