Nepal braces for heavy rain and mountain snow from 28 October as Bay of Bengal system builds

Nepal's weather agency has warned of rain and snowfall across the country towards the end of next week, as a low-pressure system develops over the Bay of Bengal. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) says the system's effects will become noticeable at the end of the coming week, with heavy rain possible in parts of the Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki hills and in the Terai, and heavy to very heavy snow at one or two places in the high mountains of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki.

Earlier in the week, only light snow is expected at one or two Himalayan locations and no rain in the Terai. Temperatures are forecast to fall slightly nationwide.

Meteorologist Binod Pokharel, told the news agency ANI on 24 October that some areas could receive more than 200 mm over the wet spell, which he put at Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November. He stressed that this would not all fall in a single day. DHM itself says it is not yet possible to say with certainty how much rain will fall or how severe the risk will be. Pokharel's comparison with the conditions before Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 is his own view, not an official forecast.

The timing matters. Nepal is still recovering from the 26 August Bhotekoshi–Trishuli floods, farmers are harvesting paddy, and trekkers remain in the Himalaya. Families in the UK with relatives travelling or trekking in Nepal should check the latest DHM bulletins and local advice. Forecast details may change; this item reflects official information published on 23 October and reporting dated 24 October.