Kathmandu, May 9:

Monsoon is far away, but showers are lashing the capital, providing much-needed relief to denizens reeling under scorching heat. These pre-monsoon showers indicate that weather pattern is changing, say weather watchers.

“We have witnessed definite changes in rainfall pattern in recent years. Precisely speaking, we have seen more than average precipitation in the pre-monsoon phase,” said Krishna Bhakta Manandhar, Senior Meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DOHM).

He reminded that the average pre-monsoon rainfall during May is 116 mm. However, the capital city has received 36 mm of rainfall in nine days, with days ahead likely to see more rain. While April 2006 and April 2007 did well, April and May 2005 were dry.

Manandhar, in-charge of the weather station at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), said, “Certainly what is pouring down in great quantity is pre-monsoon rain.

Thundershowers with lightning are the characteristics of pre-monsoon activity. This kind of pattern goes back to the last two years, with pre-monsoon precipitation impressing us all,” Manandhar said.

He, however, made it clear that monsoon is still far away. At best, it is not yet time to speculate how long it will take before monsoon lashes the country before it lashes India. Indian authorities have not yet made any forecast concerning monsoon.

“The monsoon clouds are at formative stage over the southwest Bay of Bengal. This is all we

can offer now,” Manandhar said when asked when the monsoon rain would arrive, thus setting in relief to the tarai, where mercury is on the boil.

Meanwhile, next few weeks will keep on witnessing partly cloudy and partly sunny conditions. The element of moisture input present in the atmosphere, especially in the Nepal hills, is largely due to southeasterly flow from the Bay of Bengal.