Monsoon withdrawal likely to be delayed this year

Kathmandu: The monsoon, which entered Nepal on May 28 and covered the entire country by June 20, is expected to last longer than usual this year.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the monsoon became active again on Thursday, despite entering its final phase. Senior meteorologist Min Kumar Aryal said that while June 13 is the average date for the onset of monsoon in Nepal, this year it arrived 15 days earlier — and its withdrawal is also likely to be delayed.

Under the combined influence of monsoon systems, local winds, and a monsoon trough formed in the Bay of Bengal, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over the next few days. Downpours are expected on Saturday and Sunday, with weather conditions likely to improve from Monday. “After that, the impact of westerly winds will determine the timing of the monsoon’s exit,” Aryal noted.

This year, the monsoon entered Nepal from the east and gradually spread across the country by June 20.