Monsoon exits Nepal

Experts predict poor harvest

KATHMANDU, Oct 4:Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) has officially announced the end of this year’s monsoon in Nepal.

According to Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), October 4 marked the complete withdrawal of monsoon from the country.

Gradual retreat of monsoon from Nepal had begun from the first week of September.

The monsoon withdrawal began in the central and the western regions on October 2 and complete withdrawal was published two days later.
“Following the withdrawal of monsoon from western and central regions, the last of the moist clouds have finally bidden farewell to the country. Now we have entered post-monsoon period, making way for dry and cold weather,” said meteorologist, Shanti Kadel.
“Westerly wind pattern will advance in Nepal, bringing in temporary harsh weather, sunny days, dry wind and finally cold winter in the end,” added Kadel.
Nepal experiences about 80 percent of its total rainfall during monsoon period that normally kicks off from June 10. This year, monsoon entered Nepal on June 13, a delay by three days compared to its annual trend.
Monsoon rain has remained deficit this year. Out of 16 weather stations, rainfall has been recorded below normal at eight stations. Monsoon this year was disappointing in Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Janakpur, Simra, Lumley and Pokhara, Bhairawa, Surkhet and Dipayal.
“The impact of El Nino remained active throughout the monsoon season, marking months of rain deficit over half of the weather stations across the country,” said Prathibha Manandhar Singh, meteorologist at Climate Change Section of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).
Normally, Nepal experiences 1422 mm of rainfall in monsoon but the rate differs according to weather stations.
Monsoon withdrawal was delayed by 10 days this year. September 23 is the conventional date for monsoon withdrawal from Nepal. This is not the first time monsoon withdrawal has been delayed in Nepal. As per the MFD report, monsoon withdrawal has been significantly pushed back since 1998.
In 1998, monsoon exited Nepal on October 3. The date stretched to October 8 in 1999. The withdrawal dates moved further back to October 9, 17 and 15 from 2007 to 2009. In 2013, the retreat took place on October 19.
Considering the weak monsoon followed by the massive tremor of April 25, Udaya Chandra Thakur, spokesperson for Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) expressed least hope for a good harvest this year.
Over 95 percent of agriculture work was completed this monsoon, but most of the plantation occurred late, according to Thakur.