KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The Kathmandu valley´s temperature remained below the freezing point for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday. This winter, the valley´s temperature went below the freezing point for the first time last Monday.
The minimum temperature, which was recorded at -0.7 degree Celsius on Monday, further dipped to -1 degree Celsius on Tuesday and then to -2 degree Celsius on Wednesday.
On Thursday, although the minimum temperature slightly rose to -- 0.9 degree Celsius, the valley residents felt colder as the maximum temperature dipped to 15 degree Celsius -- one degree Celsius down compared to the previous day.
At 0 degree Celsius, water starts changing into ice. This is why meteorologists term it as the freezing point. However, as minimum temperature stays at the freezing point for a very short while -- often a little before sunrise, the valley residents have not clearly seen water changing into ice.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) records weather in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) area and generalizes it for the whole valley.
"Even though we record minimum temperature at 0 degree Celsius in the airport area, it may not be below the freezing point in some other places," says senior meteorologist Rajendra Shrestha.
According to Shrestha, the morning the MFD records temperature below the freezing point, frost can be seen particularly on the open ground.
Unlike in the past few years, the temperature has consistently been going below the freezing point for many days this winter. And, for the next few days, there will be no change, according to Shrestha.
However, the day-time temperature, has not declined below 15 degree Celsius. "It is all thanks to dry winter," says Shrestha. "If it rains, the maximum temperature will also dip drastically."
As per available records at MFD, the maximum temperature had gone to as low as 6.9 degree Celsius in 1997. "It had drizzled all throughout the day," says Shrestha.
"If it rains in the next few days, maximum temperature will drop drastically. However, minimum temperature will then start rising," he explained.
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