KATHMANDU, Jan 13: Denizens of Kathmandu Valley are witnessing extreme cold with the temperature falling to 2.6 degrees Celsius in the capital on Thursday. 

Just a day ago on Wednesday, the temperature had reached its lowest point this winter, hitting 2.4 degrees Celsius. The Metrological Forecasting Division (MFD) expects the temperature to dip further in the coming days, and urged the denizens to stay warm to avoid illness.

“As the temperature in the valley had reached zero degrees Celsius last year, colder days should be expected. But, drastic temperature changes are being noticed in some parts of the country, making the prediction more difficult,” said Meteorologist Bibhuti Pokhrel of MFD, a division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

According to the MFD, although cold waves have not yet hit the tarai region so far this year, Pokhrel said thick fogs are expected to shroud the eastern tarai from Friday. Such dense fogs could last for over a week.

Jumla, Jomsom and Jiri have witnessed sub-zero temperatures, with the minimum temperature in these districts recorded at -6 degrees Celsius, -5.7 degrees Celsius, and -3.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to MFD.

The extreme cold during winter has been claiming some lives every year. Especially the poor and helpless are most affected.

Winter usually starts from mid-November and lasts till February in the country. Kathmandu had recorded the lowest ever temperature of -2 degree Celsius on Dec 31, 1977.

 
• kathmandu vallley
 
• denizens
 
• cold