A sudden change in the local weather system influenced by the western disturbance brought first winter rains in many places of the country, causing the minimum day temperature to drop to 2 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Families displaced by the Gorkha earthquake, who are living in flimsy huts, were hit hard as snow blanketed many settlements in Gorkha, Dolakha, Dhading and Kavre districts.

Barpak, the epicentre of 2015 earthquake, Laprak, Gumda Kerauja, Uhiya, Sirdibas, Gumda and Saurpani village in northern Gorkha, which received heavy snowfall on Sunday, were greatly affected. Schools have been shut in most of the villages due to cold.

“People are forced to stay indoors due to the biting cold,” Khil Bahadur Gurung, a cinema artist, told the Post over telephone.

Settlements in eight VDCs in upper Dhading received snowfall and hailstorm.

Light rainfall was recorded in some places of the hills and mountains along with some Tarai areas in the western region starting Saturday night. 

According to Barun Paudel of the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the change in weather was experienced in central and eastern regions from Sunday.

“Except for a few Hill districts in the far-western region, many places received their first winter rains on Sunday. This has added to the chill,” said Paudel.

The weather is forecast to be clearer starting Monday afternoon. “The day temperature has dropped across the country with foggy mornings in the Tarai districts. However, a cold wave condition is unlikely,” said Paudel.

Some hilly districts recorded brief rains along with snow on December 25. Kathmandu recorded the first rain and lowest day temperature so far this winter on Sunday. The city recorded 0.2 millimetres of rainfall on Sunday afternoon while day temperature dropped by almost five degrees. The maximum and minimum temperature in Kathmandu on Sunday was 14.5 and 5 degrees.

On Sunday, Jumla recorded the lowest temperature at 3 degrees Celsius while Biratnagar recorded highest temperature at 28.2 degree Celsius among the 20 meteorological stations updated on Sunday. Jomsom saw highest rainfall measuring at 9 millimetres.

(With inputs from our district correspondents)