Country receives below normal monsoon rainfall

KATHMANDU, Aug 21: Three months since the onset of monsoon, the country so far has received only 25 percent rainfall.

According to Prathibha Manandhar Singh, meteorologist at the Climate Section under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), rainfall records are below normal."We have not received significant rainfall even by the third week of August. By now, the country should have received 75 percent of rainfall," said Singh.

Of the 16 synoptic weather stations installed at various airports across the country, 10 have recorded rainfall deficit. Below normal rainfall has been recorded in Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Okhaldhunga, Janakpur, Kathmandu, Simra, Lumley, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Surkhet and Dipayal.

Normal and above normal rainfall has been in Taplejung, Nepalgunj, Jumla and Dhangadhi.

There are 400 weather stations installed across the country. However, these synoptic stations provide a brief picture of rainfall status in all regions.

DHM considers 1400mm of rainfall as average normal for monsoon season that kicks off from the second week of June. Conventionally, monsoon rainfall continues till the end of September. However, both onset and withdrawal date for monsoon in Nepal has been shifting.

Highest rainfall deficit has been recorded in Biratnagar. Although Biratnagar should have received 1200mm of rainfall by now, it has only received 420mm of rainfall so far.

Rainfall deficit pattern for Janakpur is no less different. Nearly 420mm of rainfall has been recorded so far. By now, Janakpur should have received at least 1000mm of rainfall. Simara, which should have recorded at least 1,000 mm of rainfall is experiencing similar rainfall deficit. It has only received 600mm of rainfall so far.

Even Pokhara, which normally receives highest rainfall in the country, has been experiencing rainfall deficit. It should have received 2200mm of rainfall by now, but it has only received 1600mm.

Experts had already predicted weak surge of monsoon in South Asian countries, including Nepal. According to experts, formation of El Nino conditions over the Pacific Ocean is one of the major reasons behind the weak surge of monsoon in the region.

"Besides El Nino, two other cyclones developed above Arabian and Mediterranean seas. These circles of heavy wind formation absorbed moisture from the heavy clouds and pushed them away from Nepal. Thus, monsoon turned out weak in the end," said Samir Shrestha, meteorologist at Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD).

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