Mercury likely to dip further, says MFD

Kathmandu, December 29: Kathmandu Valley continues to be covered in smog in the peak winter season due to lack of rainfall.

Meteorologist Suvash Rimal at Meteorological Forecasting Division said Kathmandu Valley had not even witnessed fog even as the month of December was approaching its end.  “There must be adequate moisture in the air for fog formation, but there has been no winter rainfall in the Valley. This is why the city continues to remain covered in smog.”

The MFD said there was no chances of rainfall for the next three days. It, however, said that mercury was likely to dip further.

In Kathmandu, 3.7 degrees Celsius is the normal minimum temperature in December. However, the Valley recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius today.

Meteorologist Rimal said mercury would continue to dip further although no major fluctuations would take place. The normal minimum temperature of the Valley in the month of January is 2.4 degrees Celsius, but the Valley records the coldest days between mid-December and mid-January. The normal rainfall in the month of December is 13.2 mm. However, only 0.1 mm rainfall has been recorded in the month.

Today, the minimum temperature in Dipayal stood at 3.6 degrees Celsius, Dadeldhura 6.9 degrees Celsius, Dhangadi 7.2 degrees Celsius, Birendranagar 4 degrees Celsius, Nepalgunj 7.5 degrees Celsius, Jumla 4 degrees Celsius, Dang 7.4 degrees Celsius, Pokhara 6.5 degrees Celsius, Bhairahawa 8.7 degrees Celsius, Simara 4 degrees Celsius, Okhaldhunga 8.2 degrees Celsius, Taplejung 5.6 degrees Celsius, Dhankuta 8.6 degrees Celsius and Biratnagar 8.8 degrees Celsius.

MFD has predicted partly cloudy weather in the eastern hilly region for tomorrow. Similarly, dense fog is likely to cover some areas of the Tarai region till noon.

According to Consensus Statement on the Forecast Outlook for the Winter Season (December 2017 to February 2018) Precipitation and Temperatures over South Asia, below normal precipitation is likely during the winter season over some areas of northeastern part of south Asia, including Nepal.

Above normal precipitation is likely over some southeastern parts of the region. Normal precipitation is likely over remaining parts of the region. During the season, normal to slightly above normal temperatures are likely over most parts of the region.