Heavy to Very Heavy Rain Expected Across Nepal This Week, Officials Warn

The Meteorological Forecasting Division of Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has issued a warning that heavy to very heavy rain will likely affect the country from Thursday through Sunday, driven by a low-pressure system over the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Experts, including Binod Pokharel of Tribhuvan University, note that several forecast models predict rainfall exceeding 400 mm, with one model projecting as much as 741 mm, an amount comparable to seasonal monsoon totals.

Such intense precipitation could trigger floods, landslides and waterlogging, especially in western and central regions, and may impede ongoing disaster-relief efforts after the August flash flood that killed over 1,400 people. Sanjib Adhikari of the Meteorological Forecasting Division cautioned that the eastern system could interact with western weather patterns, increasing the risk of very heavy rain in Sudurpaschim and central Nepal.

While it remains uncertain whether the system will develop into a cyclone, the threat of sustained heavy rain persists. The monsoon, which normally retreats around early October, may remain active longer due to this weather pattern and the influence of a strengthening El Niño event.