POKHARA, June 11: Pokhara did not experience the scorching heat in this season last year as there was heavy rain in the evening. When it rained every day in the evening, ordinary people perceived Pokhara as a cool city. Even though there was a scorching heat in the afternoon, they experienced relief when it rained in the evening.

Pokhara was also known as a city that offered respite from the scorching summer heat. Domestic and Indian visitors sought to visit Pokhara from the major cities of the Terai region in a bid to escape the oppressive temperatures. However, this time Pokhara has experienced unusually hot weather. 

The measurement of daily temperature has affirmed Pokhara as a hot city. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), Pokhara, Pokhara has experienced heat breaking the previous  records this year.

Earlier the highest temperature in Pokhara was measured at 37.4 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature reached 37.4 degrees on April 8, 1975. Similarly, on April 22, 1992, the temperature of Pokhara reached 37.4 degrees and it was measured at 37.4 degrees on April 28, 1999, according to the DHM.

According to the weather station at Pokhara International Airport, the temperature in Pokhara was 35.7 degrees on Thursday, 36 degrees on Friday and 35 degrees on Saturday. "After 23 years, the temperature of Pokhara has set a new record," said meteorologist Min Kumar Aryal. "This year too, the highest temperature has been reached so far." 

Aryal said that although the temperature was high in the months of April in 1975, 1992 and 1999, those were pre-monsoon times. However, the temperature has now reached its highest point in the second week of June. Aryal said that the current time can be said to be close to monsoon. He said that the temperature during pre-monsoon and near-monsoon can be analyzed differently.

Meteorologist Aryal said there is a possibility of rainfall in Pokhara next Wednesday and Thursday. "Our forecast is that there will be rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday due to the local system," he said, while adding that the weather in Pokhara has become dry due to lack of rain. "With no rainfall for a week, Pokhara has become completely dry," he said.

The tourist activities in Pokhara have witnessed a sharp decline due to lack of rainfall. There is a crowd of people who come to swim in the swimming pools and hotels. Aryal said that people have stopped going out except for essential works in the afternoon. “When the road heats up, the air also heats up,” he said.

The temperature has risen not only in Pokhara but also in the surrounding districts. The temperature has also risen in Gorkha, Syangja and other districts. The temperature has also risen in the Himalayan districts of Manang and Mustang. According to Mustang's Jomsom Airport, the latest temperature in Jomsom has reached 23 degrees. Similarly, the temperature in Manang has risen to 16 degrees. "Until last year, the temperature did not rise above 13 degrees. However, this time it has reached 16 degrees. Even if there is an increase of just one degree in a cold place, one can experience hot weather," says Lekhnath Gautam, a conservation officer at Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). 

 
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