Possibility of rain in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces

Kathmandu, May 7: Nepal is currently under the influence of a westerly low-pressure system coupled with local winds in the lower atmosphere near the eastern belt of the country. As a result of this pattern, the hilly and Himalayan regions of the country will be generally cloudy and the Tarai part will be partly cloudy today, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

The Department stated that generally cloudy conditions are expected in the hilly and Himalayan regions of the country, while partly cloudy conditions are expected in the Tarai. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at some places in Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces as well as in the hilly and Himalayan regions of the remaining provinces. Light rainfall with thunder and lightning is also likely at a few places in the remaining Tarai regions.

Later tonight, generally cloudy conditions are expected in the Koshi Province as well as in the Himalayan region of the country, while partly cloudy conditions are expected in the remaining areas.

There is a possibility of moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning at some places in Koshi Province, and at one or two places in in the hilly and Himalayan regions of the remaining provinces, the weather service added.

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Unseasonal snowfall affects Muktinath Yatra, agriculture in Mustang

The month of May is considered the best season to travel to Mustang district, as the winter season is over and there are slim chances of snowfall and biting cold.

But, this is not the reality for Mustang folks this year. The district has witnessed snowfall in recent days, resulting in low temperatures. Eyewitnesses shared that the Muktinath area recorded snowfall for more than an hour on Wednesday.

Saroj Gharti, a health worker in the Muktinath-based High Altitude Treatment Centre, said the area received snowfall for more than an hour and the hills are snowcapped now. Gharti added that the pilgrims visiting the Muktinath Mandir have faced difficulties due to the unseasonal snowfall. With the latest incident of snowfall on Wednesday, the area recorded snowfall for the eighth time this year alone. The local people have described it as an impact of climate change.

The Chairman of Baragung Muktichhetra-1, Pramesh Gurung, said that the unseasonal snowfall and the unfavorable weather pattern in this tourism season was unfortunate for the local business in Mustang. Likewise, the locals in Khinga, Jharkot, Lupra and Purang Rani Pauwa villages have already celebrated the Dha Chhyang festival, which denotes a farewell to the winter season and a welcome to the summer.

Ward Chairman Gurung feared that the unseasonal snowfall could damage the blossoming apple trees and other crops in the farms. Lhakpa Tashi Gurung, the leader of Khinga village, in Baragung Muktichhetra-1, said that the snowfall in May is an unusual incident for them despite repeated snowfalls in the winter season and added that the snowfall in this month could affect the agriculture and tourism sectors. —