Kathmandu, February 14, 2007 In an unprecedented change in weather condition, the nation today saw sporadic snowfall at various places including the capital, throwing general life out of gear. The residents of the valley were taken by surprise when they saw snow flakes falling around 1.30 pm. The snowfall lasted till 2.15 pm. Though the temperature dipped to three degrees centigrade, it was enough to melt away the falling snow. Usually, the temperature should dip below zero degree celsius to accumulate the falling snow. However, peaks around the valley — Nagarkot, Shivapuri, Phulchoki and Chandragiri — received heavy snowfall. Senior meteorologist stationed at the Tribhuvan International Airport, said, “Capital saw snow fall after 62 years. In 1945, the capital was under one foot snow.” This was a major departure from the previous years when snowfall was reported only in the hills surrounding the capital. Manandhar pointed out that while the temperature recorded early morning was 7.2 degrees celsius, temperature in the afternoon was three degrees celsius. The normal trend is that mercury in the afternoon goes up in the afternoon. “The minimum temperature recorded this winter was minus 0.5 degree Celsius on the morning of January 14,” he said. Manandhar, however, said it is likely that the weather would improve by tomorrow but did not rule out brief showers during the night. “The weather would be partly fair and partly cloudy across the country,” Manandhar added. Today’s snowfall has been attributed to the effect of the westerly winds, which are gradually moving eastwards. 40-hour weekly power-cut in valley Kathmandu, February 14, 2007 Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) today stated that it would slap 40-hour weekly power-cut in the capital from tomorrow, as a result of rising power demand and decreasing power supply at generation plants due to dry season. For this, the valley has been divided into seven groups and each group will have to face load shedding in two time periods, each stretching for three hours. The load shedding will be effective from 5.30 am to 8.30 am (morning), from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm (daytime-1), 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm (daytime-2), 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm (evening), 9.30 pm to 1.30 am (night-1) and 1.30 am to 5.30 am (night-2). The first group faces power cut in the evening and night-2 on Sunday, evening and night-2 on Monday, daytime-1 and night-1 on Tuesday, daytime-1 and night-1 on Wednesday, morning and daytime-2 on Thursday, morning and daytime-2 on Friday. There will be no power-cut on Saturday in Group-I. The NEA has published similar schedules for other groups as well. Sher Sing Bhat, the chief of Load Dispatch Section of NEA said the load shedding would continue for at least one month and the authority will revise the schedule.