Kathmandu Records Coldest Morning of the Year

In a bone-chilling turn of events, Kathmandu Valley experienced its coldest morning of the year, as temperatures plummeted to a freezing 2.1°C, according to the latest data from the Meteorological Forecast Division (MFD) at 8:45 am on Sunday. This marks the lowest recorded temperature in the valley for the current year.

The extreme cold extends beyond the capital, with Jumla recording an even colder -4.9°C during the same time frame. As the chill sets in the Kathmandu Valley, thick fog has enveloped the Tarai region, significantly reducing visibility. The dense fog, currently shrouding the majority of the Tarai belt, is expected to dissipate by afternoon, as per the MFD. However, it is causing visibility to plummet to as low as 50 meters in Bhairahawa, followed by Dhangadi and Simara with 100 meters each, and Nepalgunj with 200 meters of visibility.

The MFD has issued a cautionary advisory regarding the impacts of fog on daily life, health, and transportation networks, both on roads and in the air. Particularly affected is air travel, with flights from Tarai region airports experiencing significant disruptions. The fog-induced reduction in visibility falls far below the required threshold of 1300 meters for safe air travel, leading to delays and cancellations that inconvenience travelers and disrupt schedules.

Across the country, the skies are mostly cloudy, with some areas experiencing partly to generally cloudy conditions, especially in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces. As night falls, the clouds are expected to persist, particularly in the hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali provinces, while the rest of the country will see partly cloudy to mainly clear skies. Additionally, there’s a chance of light snowfall in isolated spots of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali provinces.

The prevailing weather patterns are influenced by western winds sweeping across the country. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions in light of the cold temperatures, fog-induced low visibility, and potential disruptions to daily activities.