Kathmandu, Dec. 23: The weather situation across the country worsened on Thursday because of partial influence of the western low-pressure system in the eastern part of the country. Cold increased in Kathmandu Valley because of haze in the morning.  

The temperature of the Valley dropped to 6.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday and is likely to fall further in the coming days as January, the coldest month of the year is yet to come, said Pratibha Tuladhar, senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM). 

The temperature will decrease gradually in most parts of the district including the Terai as haze is likely to blanket the plains soon.

Currently, the sky in the hilly areas of Province 1, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces is cloudy with a few areas of Terai experiencing thick fog, according to the DHM. 

Dr. Binod Pokharel, Associate Professor at the Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Tribhuvan University, said that there is a low chance of rainfall this winter, which will result in increased pollution in the Valley.

“Kathmandu is already dry in lack of rainfall and the layer of haze and fog will make the Valley drier this winter. There is also a chance of more forest fires which also leads to pollution across the country,” Dr. Pokharel said.

Tuladhar also said that temperature will drop in the coming days and there will be chances of below-normal temperatures with below-normal rainfall, she said. “There might be chances of an increased level of pollution in the city areas including the Kathmandu Valley in absence of winter rainfall. 

According to the latest details of the DHM, the minimum temperature in the Kathmandu Valley on Thursday was 6.5 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature was measured in Jumla at minus 6.1 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature in Bhairawa was recorded at 12.5 degrees.

Tuladhar suggested the general population take the necessary precautions to save oneself from the increasing cold throughout the country.