Winter rains make days colder

The unexpected rainfall that started throughout the country from early Monday morning has resulted in the mercury plummeting and sent chills in Kathmandu and hilly areas.

Usually, the winter showers are expected only in December end. However, this year the winter rain came well ahead because of the westerlies from the Bay of Bengal entering Nepal and moving east.

According to the officials at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the rains would stop by Tuesday evening.

The rainfall has been boon for winter crops while the people in the hilly and mountainous regions are facing a winter chill because of snowfall. In the western hilly districts, snowfall has begun. The rainfall would lengthen the duration of cold this winter.

In the last 24 hours, Dang received the highest rainfall of 13 mm. Likewise the rainfall in Dadeldhura is recorded at 12 mm, Nepalgunj 12.8, Birendra Nagar 10, Dhangadi 11.2 and Kathmandu 0.7 mm. Kathmandu and Bhairahawa also received thundershowers.

The unexpected rain has disrupted domestic flights from Tribhuvan International Airport with only two flights taking off till Monday noon. However, the international flights are regular, officials at the TIA information centre said. nepalnews.com ia Dec 11 06