Monsoon active; heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast across Nepal

KATHMANDU: Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) has warned of widespread cloudiness and scattered rain and thunderstorms across Nepal as the monsoon remains active.

The agency said the Hilly and Himalayan regions will be generally cloudy today. Tarai areas of Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim provinces are also expected to be generally cloudy, while Tarai parts of Koshi, Madhesh and Bagmati provinces will be partly cloudy.

Light to moderate rain or snow with thunder and lightning is likely at a few places in the Himalayan region, and light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning may occur at some locations in the Hilly region. A few places in the Tarai of Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim could receive light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Similar conditions are possible at a few places in Madhesh and the Tarai of Koshi and Bagmati.

The MFD said heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places in the Hilly and Tarai areas of Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim, and in the Hilly region of Koshi. Windstorms are possible at a few places in Madhesh and the Tarai of Koshi.

For tonight, Koshi, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim are expected to be generally cloudy. The Hilly regions of Bagmati and Gandaki will also be generally cloudy, while Madhesh and the Tarai of Bagmati and Gandaki will be partly cloudy.

The MFD said light to moderate rain or snow with thunder and lightning may occur at a few places in the Himalayan region tonight. A few places in Koshi and Sudurpashchim, the Hilly region of Karnali, and the Hilly and Tarai regions of Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini may also see light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning. One or two places in Madhesh could experience similar conditions. Heavy rainfall remains possible at one or two places in the Hilly and Tarai regions of Gandaki and Sudurpashchim and in the Hilly region of Koshi.

In its analysis, the MFD said the monsoon is active across the country. The monsoon trough currently lies south of its normal location over eastern Nepal and near its average location over the western part of the country.