KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Nepal is unlikely to receive heavy or very heavy rainfall over the next eight days, providing farmers with a favorable window to harvest paddy, meteorologist Binod Pokharel said.
Releasing the latest rainfall forecast for October 2 to 9, Pokharel said farmers could choose suitable days for harvesting and plan other agricultural activities accordingly.
An average forecast based on four weather models shows chances of light rain in many parts of the country on October 2 and 3.
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The likelihood and intensity of rainfall are expected to increase slightly in the hilly areas of eastern and central Nepal on October 4 and 5.
On October 6 and 7, the main area of rainfall is forecast to shift towards the hilly and mountainous regions of western Nepal, Pokharel said. Light rain could continue in some hilly areas on October 8 and 9.
The Tarai is expected to receive comparatively less rainfall during the period.
Pokharel said rain would not occur everywhere every day. Most areas are expected to receive only light rain, although moderate rainfall is possible at one or two locations.
Total rainfall between October 2 and 9 is projected at around 15 to 40 millimeters in many districts and between 40 and 60 millimeters in some mid-hill districts.
Pokharel stressed that these figures represent the cumulative rainfall expected over the entire eight-day period, rather than rainfall likely to occur at one time.
He said the forecast does not suggest conditions that would require farmers to stop harvesting paddy altogether. Farmers can instead plan harvesting and other agricultural work by checking rainfall forecasts for their respective districts and choosing suitable days.
