Kathmandu, October 15

Nepal recorded the fourth most delayed monsoon withdrawal this year today with monsoon yet to retreat from eastern parts of the country.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, it may take another couple of days for monsoon to completely withdraw from the country. This year monsoon entered the country after a delay of two days on June 12. The normal monsoon arrival date in Nepal is June 10. Likewise, the normal monsoon withdrawal date is September 23.

Earlier, the year 2009 had recorded the third most delayed monsoon, ending that year on October 15.

Director General at DHM Rishi Ram Sharma said, “Whether or not it is the effect of global warming but this year also monsoon withdrawal has been delayed. The delay has broken past records as well.

The year 2013 saw the largest deviation from the set monsoon withdrawal period, ending that year on October 19 instead of September 23.

DHM said monsoon was in the final stage of retreating from Nepal. “Apart from the eastern parts of Udaypur, monsoon has withdrawn from other parts of the country,” DG Sharma said.

In Nepal, monsoon withdrawal starts from the western parts of the country. During monsoon  withdrawal, westerly winds replace easterly winds.

Meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division said rainfall was likely to occur for the next two days in eastern and central regions due to moisture from the Bay of Bengal.