Massive fluctuation in temperature and rainfall in the mountains this year have become a matter to worry about for meteorologists. “ Manang and Mustang districts are showing weather pattern similar to that of a desert. This strange weather pattern should be studied,” said Bikram Shrestha, meteorologist at the Narayani Basin Office, Pokhara.
Shrestha also said the two districts were showing different weather patterns despite sharing similar geographical features. While Mustang recorded high temperature and massive rainfall, Manang recorded minimal rainfall this year.
Shrestha feels the effect of El Nino, monthly or seasonal fluctuations in air pressure caused by warming of surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, may have reached Nepal this year. “It may be a strong reason for the late arrival of monsoon and inadequate rainfall even after the onset of monsoon this year,” Shrestha estimates. He says the westerlies that are supposed to move at a lower altitude were pushed above due to El Nino, thereby raising temperature and precipitation in the mountainous region.
Mustang had received just 17 mm rain in May last year. But this year it received 53.5 mm in the same period. Manang surprisingly received just 7 mm in May, while it had received 356.6 mm during the period last year.
Records show that Mustang had received rainfall for just six days in May, 2008. But it rained for 12 days in the same period this year. Manang, on the other hand, received rainfall for just a day in this May in comparison to 30 days in last May.
Shrestha informed that the temperature trend had also been dramatic in the two districts this year. The maximum temperature in Mustang was 10 degree Celsius in May last year. However, it rose to 28 degree Celsius this year. The minimum temperature decreased to 2.8 in May this year from 4.5 in the same period last year. Similarly, Manang´s maximum temperature in May rose to 24 this year from 22 while the minimum decreased to 3.5 from 5 degree Celsius of the same period last year.
Shrestha fears such surprising weather variation can invite disaster in the mountains. “This year´s weather pattern may be a precursor to an impending disaster,” he warns.
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