After ravaging South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, Cyclone Ockhi in the Arabian Sea has moved northwards, affecting weather conditions in Nepal, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD). 

The first tropical storm of the season has intensified further into ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’, and is likely to make landfall in Gujarat on Tuesday night with heavy rainfall in the state and neighbouring Maharashtra as well.

Since its development in the Arabian Sea, the country’s weather has also witnessed changes. In the last few days, the country has seen cloudy weather throughout with maximum effect in western districts and high mountains. 

Cloudy weather has caused the temperature to slump further, according to Barun Paudel, a meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

“The effect is more evident in western parts of the country, especially west of Kathmandu. Such change has occurred since last Monday which has brought cloudy weather, light snowfall in mountain areas and temperature decrease,” he said.

According to the MFD, temperature decreases was recorded as high as 10 degree Celsius in places like Dipayal.

Following the movement of the cyclone, the MFD has issued a special bulletin, which has said that the weather in the country is likely to further deteriorate in the next few days.

The bulletin has also warned the concerned authorities and tourism entrepreneurs not to conduct mountaineering for next the few days due to prediction of snowfall in upper regions.

“Mountaineers need to be extra careful over the next few days as there is a chance of snowfall,” said Paudel.

Cyclone Ockhi has also increased the chance of rainfall. However, the intensity of the rainfall will be light to moderate in places of western Nepal. Light rainfall occurred in places like Dadeldhura and Dhangadhi on Tuesday afternoon.

The MFD has predicted snowfall in many places of central and western mountainous region and few such places of upper region of eastern Nepal on Wednesday, followed by light rainfall in few places of western Nepal.

On the election day on Thursday, the weather will remain similar to Wednesday. However, rainfall and snowfall will be limited to one or two places in eastern mountains and western districts.  

Paudel said the phenomenon so far witnessed in western Nepal will slowly move towards the eastern part of the country in the coming days.