“This is the second time this year that the hilly areas around Kathmandu have witnessed mild snowfall, the first one being in late December,” said Mani Ratna Shakya, chief of Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD). “It is usual for the hills around Kathmandu to witness snowfall in winter,” he explained.[break]
Though the MFD does not have stations in place to record snowfall, Shakya said Nagarjun, Shivapuri, Nagarkot, and Daman must have witnessed snowfall.
According to Shakya, weather is likely to improve from Monday, but it is a bit too optimistic to expect an improved weather condition to continue for long.
Senior Meteorologist Rajendra Shrestha said the country´s western hills are witnessing heavy snowfall, while lower areas are facing heavy rainfall.
Though Kathmandu felt colder due to foggy weather on Sunday, minimum temperature actually rose from 1.2 degrees on Saturday to 3.5 on Sunday, according to MFD.
The division has forecast partly cloudy weather in the hilly regions with chances of rain in a few places on Monday.
Reports from districts indicate weather has disrupted normal life in several areas.
Snowfall in Manang and Lamjung since Saturday evening has grounded flights in Manang and stranded trekkers along the Annapurna circuit, according to a report filed by our correspondent.
In Upper Manang, villages such as Tankimanang, Skangshar, Dawal, Nar, Phu and Chame have been covered by snow. In Lamjung, villages including Ghanpokhara, Ghalegaon, Bhujung, Taghring, and Bajhakhet, among others, have been affected.
The Pokhara-Manang air traffic has been halted by snowfall. Even telephone and power supply has been affected in Manang.
Meanwhile, snowfall has affected normal life in Lumle of Kaski district, according to our Pokhara correspondent.
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