Nepal has experienced the onset of the monsoon 15 days earlier than usual, the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology confirmed in a bulletin released Friday afternoon.

The monsoon system, which typically begins around June 13, entered the country from the eastern region late on Thursday, May 29. According to the bulletin, it has already covered most parts of Koshi Province, bringing light to moderate rainfall in several areas.

Despite the early arrival, the department noted that it will take additional time for the monsoon to fully advance across the rest of the country. “At present, most other regions remain under the influence of westerly and local wind systems,” the bulletin mentioned.

This year’s monsoon is forecast to be above average. The rain-induced disasters this season is likely to affect around two million people across the country, according to the latest government assessment.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said that around 457,000 households, or 1.99 million individuals, could be impacted by monsoon-related disasters this year. The authority further estimated that 10 percent of the affected population may require rescue and relief support.

According to the state-owned RSS news agency, the eastern part of Karnali Province, northern Lumbini, and most of Gandaki Province are expected to receive 55 to 65 percent more rainfall than average.

Similarly, the southern region of Sudurpaschim, the western part of Lumbini, northeastern Gandaki, and the northern areas of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces are forecast to receive 45 to 55 percent above-average rainfall.

In the eastern and southern areas of Madhesh Province, rainfall is projected to be within 35 to 45 percent of the average, with the rest of the country also expected to see a similar increase above normal levels.

(With inputs from RSS)