KATHMANDU, Jan 8: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology is for the first time preparing to set up weather radars in some districts with the purpose to making the country's weather information system effective. 

The process to purchase necessary equipments for the purpose has started, informed Director General of the Department Dr Rishiram Sharma. 

The radars will be set up at Ratanangla of Surkhet, Siddhikot of Palpa and Nametar of Udayapur, he said, adding that the cost to install radar in Surkhet will be borne by the Asian Development Bank while the government will provide financial aid to set up radars in other two places. 

Total radar installation cost is estimated to be approximately Rs 200 million each. 

Sharma said installation of radar will help provide weather-related information in an easy way and reduce natural disasters like flooding and landslides while also making air service safer. 

Meanwhile, the department has been providing weather-related information through automatic weather stations established at a total of 120 places across the country including the capital city, Kathmandu. The number of the stations will be increased to 300 soon, Sharma said. 

According to the meteorologists, they make the predictions by studying the updates in the earth's atmosphere up to 16 kilometers up from the earth level that is the determinant of weather conditions. 

Latest predictions are now nearer to the reality as advanced satellite and picture received from European and Chinese technology are being used. 

General Director Sharma shared that they were collecting weather information through weather research and forecast (WRF) modality. He further added that they were constructing a sophisticated five-storied office building in Babarmahal to provide the services effectively. 

Meanwhile, division has shared that the westerly winds from the Mediterranean Sea has led to a sudden dip in temperature in various parts of the country causing rainfall and snowfall in hilly region. RSS 

 
• department of hydrology and meteorology
 
• weather radar
 
• weather effective