By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, June 2: This year, the monsoon season is likely to start before June 13 as it has already started in Kerala, India, from 29th May.
It takes about 10 days for the monsoon to reach Nepal, experts said.
The monsoon start in Kerala marks the beginning of the four-month — June-September — southwest monsoon season. The monsoon brings 80 per cent of Nepal’s annual rainfall. The monsoon in Kerala arrives mostly on June 1 but this time it started on May 29, three days ahead of the scheduled date.
According to Hira Bhattarai, a meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecast Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the monsoon season in Nepal typically begins in the second week of June, but the exact date of the onset cannot be predicted. “It can happen a few days before or after the predicted date,” he said.
DHM is currently monitoring the weather system, Bhattarai added. “We are in the pre-monsoon stage now and monsoon is likely to start within 10 days after it starts from Kerala,” he informed.
According to Consensus Statement on the Seasonal Climate Outlook over South Asia for the 2022 Southwest Monsoon Season (June–September), normal to above-normal rainfall is most likely during the 2022 southwest monsoon season (June–September) over most parts of South Asia.
Geographically, above normal rainfall is likely along the foothills of the Himalayas, many areas of northwestern and central parts of the region, and some areas of the east and southern parts of the region.
The report also said that during the season, above normal minimum temperatures are likely over many areas along the foothills of the Himalayas, northern, northwestern and northeastern parts of South Asia.
According to a recent prediction released by DHM, there is a 35 to 45 per cent probability that northern parts of Province 1, most parts of Madhes Province and the southern part of Bagmati Province will receive normal rainfall during this season.
Meanwhile, the remaining areas have a 35 to 65 per cent probability to witness above-normal rainfall.
The maximum temperature in northern parts of the country and in most of Madhes Province is predicted to be normal by 35 to 55 per cent, while it will likely be lower than normal in the rest of the country. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has prepared a “preparation and response action plan” to minimize the damage caused by this year’s monsoon disaster and to provide relief and rescue work.
Currently, Nepal is affected by local winds, Uttar Pradesh in India, a low-pressure line around Bihar and westerly winds.
Meteorologist Bhattarai said that the pre-monsoon season during May remained active this year. “It is normal to have this kind of rainfall during the pre-monsoon season,” he said.The Rising Nepal
