• The coldest day of last winter was in December, but this season it was recorded in January

Kathmandu, February 9

Winter temperature trend in the Kathmandu Valley witnessed a significant change this year in comparison to last year.

According to Meteorological Forecasting Division, in 2015, coldest days in the Valley were recorded on December 24 and 25 with minimum temperatures recorded at 0 and 0.2 degree Celsius respectively. However, the minimum temperature on the same days this winter stood at 6.6 and 6.6 degree Celsius respectively.

This year Kathmandu Valley recorded the coldest day on January 14 at 0.4 degree Celsius. Similarly, Valley recorded minimum temperatures of 0.5 degree Celsius on 15 January and 0.7 degree Celsius on January 16 this year. The minimum temperature on January 14, which was the coldest day last year, stood at 3.5 degree Celsius this year.

“Valley witnessed the coldest day in December last year but this year the coldest day was recorded in last phase of winter in January,” meteorologist Subas Rimal told The Himalayan Times. “Winter temperature trend shows there were very few cold days in winter this year.”

Though minimum temperature was recorded below zero degree Celsius this year, there were very few cold days. “Only very few days were marked as very cold in Kathmandu Valley this year, although December and January are normally considered the coldest months,” Rimal added.

He said as the comparison was made only between two years, they had yet to ascertain the exact cause of the change in winter temperature trend in the Valley.

The years 2006 and 2009 were completely dry winters without any rainfall in the Valley. Meteorologist Barun Poudel said this year was different as Kathmandu Valley witnessed the warmest winter so far. Winter season starts in Nepal from December when days become shorter and minimum temperature hits as  low as zero degree Celsius. Climatic conditions in Nepal vary from one place to another.

According to a research carried out by Meteorological Forecasting Division monsoon onset date has to be sifted by five days to June 15. Research was carried out by observing onset date since 1981 to 2010 in year 2015. With delayed monsoon this year, the country has witnessed 33 delayed monsoons out of 48 recorded so far.