Kathmandu, October 16

Monsoon which had arrived on June 12 this year has finally withdrawn from the country today after a delay of 23 days. The normal monsoon withdrawal date for Nepal is September 23.

According to Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, this year’s monsoon, which lasted for 127 days, was the third longest ever in recorded history.

In Nepal, monsoon stays for 106 days from June 10 to September 23 but this year monsoon had an extended stay. Nepal recorded the longest monsoon in the year 2008. That year, monsoon stayed  in the country for 130 days. Similarly, second longest monsoon, which lasted for 128 days, was recorded in 2013.

Director General at the DoHM Dr Rishi Ram Sharma said although this year’s monsoon was the third longest, rainfall received during the period was only 92 per cent. Mean rainfall of monsoon period in Nepal lies around 1450mm.

Sharma said continuous delay in monsoon withdrawal might be the impact of climate change. “Climate change directly or indirectly may have affected monsoon patterns,” Sharma said, adding, “Recent analysis of previous monsoon patterns show that normal monsoon onset date should be changed by two days to June 12 and withdrawal date by five days to September 28.”

Meteorological Forecasting Division said with the withdrawal of monsoon, westerly wind had dominated the whole country and there is a chance of temporary and isolated rainfall across the country.  Meteorologist at the division Suvash Rimal informed rainfall in the days ahead would increase cold.