Monsoon Withdrawal from Nepal Likely to be Delayed

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said the monsoon will take longer than usual to retreat from Nepal as it remains active across the country.

Meteorologist Sanjiv Adhikari of the department’s Weather Forecasting Division told the state-run national news agency RSS that the monsoon shows no immediate signs of withdrawal. Monsoon generally retreats from Nepal around October 2, but this year’s departure is likely to be delayed.

According to a news report published by RSS, the division forecast continued rainfall in the coming days, though the system is gradually weakening. It is expected to become weaker on Saturday, with scattered showers of up to 40 millimeters possible despite no significant risk of heavy rainfall.

Read: Around 2 Million People Likely to Be Affected by Monsoon-Induced Disasters

For Friday, September 19, the department predicts generally cloudy conditions nationwide, with moderate rain likely in some areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces. Heavy rain is possible in a few hilly and Tarai areas of these provinces.

On Saturday, September 20, the weather will remain generally cloudy in Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces and partly cloudy elsewhere. Moderate rain is expected in parts of these provinces and at a few places in the Madhes and other hilly regions.

The department added that the monsoon trough remains near its average position, with moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal still influencing Nepal’s weather.

Read: Monsoon Arrives 15 Days Ahead of Schedule

The monsoon entered Nepal from the eastern region on May 29, about two weeks earlier than the usual onset date of June 13.

Government forecasts had warned of an above-average monsoon season, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) estimating that around 2 million people—about 457,000 households—could be affected by rain-induced disasters this year. The authority also projected that roughly 10 percent of those affected might require rescue and relief support.

The NDRRMA highlighted that parts of Gandaki Province and the eastern areas of Karnali were expected to receive 55 to 65 percent more rainfall than normal, while regions of Sudurpaschim, western Lumbini, and northern Bagmati and Koshi were forecast to receive 45 to 55 percent above-average rainfall.

Read: Disasters Loom Over South Asia with Forecast of a Hotter, Wetter Monsoon