For the past few days, most parts of Nepal have been experiencing cloudy weather and rainfall. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, this pattern is expected to continue for the next three days, with light to moderate rain likely.
The recent rain has been caused by winds from the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and local weather systems. Senior meteorologist Pratibha Manandhar said that these conditions will likely last for another three days.
Looking at the current pattern of rainfall, experts believe that the monsoon might not be delayed this year. Another senior meteorologist, Min Kumar Aryal, explained that the current movement of moisture-laden winds shows signs of early monsoon activity. He said, “The way the moist winds are moving right now, it looks like we are already seeing some early monsoon patterns. So, the monsoon may not arrive late this year.”
However, Aryal also added that we cannot say for sure that the monsoon will arrive early just based on current rainfall. “Atmospheric science is very complex. Just because it’s raining now doesn’t mean the monsoon will definitely come early,” he said. “Looking at the global weather system, though, we estimate that the monsoon might not be delayed in Nepal this year.”
In Nepal, the monsoon usually begins around June 13 and ends around October 2. If it follows a normal pattern, the monsoon season lasts for about 112 days.
The monsoon is important for farming in Nepal, especially for rice cultivation, as it brings enough rain for crops. However, it also brings risks such as floods, landslides, and waterlogging, which can cause loss of life and property.
Where Does the Monsoon Come From?
The monsoon is basically moist air moving toward Nepal. It has two main branches: one comes through central India from the west, and the other enters Nepal from the Bay of Bengal.
According to meteorologist Aryal, the monsoon winds have now reached around Sri Lanka. From there, they will move through Kerala and Sikkim in India and enter eastern Nepal.
Aryal explained, “Sometimes the global weather system can pause for a few days, which can delay the arrival of the monsoon. But if it keeps moving steadily, the monsoon can arrive earlier too.”
Meteorologists track different weather systems and indicators to officially announce the start of the monsoon.
This year, experts predict that both rainfall and temperatures in Nepal will be higher than average during the monsoon season.