Monsoon rain hits Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu, June 20

Kathmandu Valley today received the first monsoon rain of this year, eight days after its onset in Nepal on June 12.  Meteorological Forecasting Division said weak monsoon had become slightly active since Monday.

Meteorologist at the division Suvash Rimal said Kathmandu Valley received traces of rain on Tuesday morning and intermittent rainfall throughout the day.

“With monsoon becoming active gradually, Kathmandu Valley received intermittent rainfall today, while parts up to Pokhara also witnessed the first monsoon rain of this year,” he told THT, adding, “Intermittent rains  will continue up to Wednesday and weather will become clear from Thursday.”

He further added rainfall will occur in Kathmandu that after  four to five days. MFD has forecast cloudy weather in the eastern region, generally cloudy in the central region and western hilly region,and partly cloudy in the rest of the country for Wednesday.

Similarly, light to moderate rainfall has been predicted in some places of the eastern region and a few places of the central region towards early morning and brief rain possible at one or two places of the western hilly regions.

While monsoon has reached till Pokhara, westerly winds have yet to leave the western part of country. MFD said western parts of the country was receiving rainfall due to westerly winds.

MFD recorded 11.5 mm rainfall in Kathmandu, 13.7 mm in Okhaldhunga, 17.1 mm in Pokhara, 15.4 mm in Dang, 8.5 mm in Biratnagar, 6.9 mm in Simara, 3.5 mm in Dadeldhura, 2 mm in Jumla, 0.7 mm in Dipayal, 0.3 mm in Dhankuta and 0.1 mm in Nepalgunj on Tuesday.

This year monsoon entered Nepal on June 12 after a delay of two days. Monsoon usually enters Nepal on June 10 and withdraws on September 23 every year. Last year, monsoon entered Nepal on June 15 after a delay of five days.