Several provinces, including Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini, and Gandaki, will witness light to moderate rainfall starting Friday night as moisture-laden westerly wind enters the country from the Mediterranean Sea.

The Kathmandu valley will also witness light rainfall on Saturday due to the western disturbances, the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

“Sudurpaschim and Karnali Province will witness light to moderate rainfall. Lumbini, Gandaki Province, will receive light rain,” said Saroj Pudasaini, a meteorologist at the division. “Hilly and mountainous areas of Gandaki Province will witness snowfall.”

Meteorologists say that the western disturbance is a phenomenon that affects the weather patterns of the Indian subcontinent, including Nepal. It is a low-pressure system that originates in the Mediterranean region and moves eastward.

“Western parts of the country will be affected much, and the weather system will become weak when it moves eastward,” said Binod Pokhrel, an associate professor at the Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. “Even if rain does not occur in the eastern part, the day will remain cloudy on Saturday.”

The rain is expected to bring relief from rising air pollution. Met officials say the temperature will decline further due to the rain. Kathmandu Valley witnessed scattered rainfall on Tuesday evening, but due to cloudy conditions, the minimum temperature did not fall much on Wednesday morning.

According to the Met Office, the minimum temperature of the Valley was recorded 6.7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday morning.

The weather will improve from Sunday.