Kathmandu, 22 Sep: A low-pressure system that has developed around the Andaman Sea is on the verge of intensifying into a cyclone, with authorities warning that its effects could reach Nepal. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the country has been placed on high alert as a precaution against possible impacts.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology is monitoring the system around the clock with heightened attention, according to Director General Dr. Archana Shrestha.
“We are closely monitoring multiple weather models because the impact on Nepal will depend on where and how the cyclone makes landfall—whether it moves toward India and then returns toward Nepal or comes directly this way,” Shrestha said.
According to her, the monsoon has already ended in various Indian cities this year. Therefore, there is a strong possibility that the system could move toward Nepal along with the monsoonal winds currently affecting the country, after passing through the Bay of Bengal.
The department has issued a special weather bulletin warning of the possibility of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds in some parts of Gandaki and Lumbini provinces from Friday, September 26, to Sunday, September 28. The department has urged people to remain highly alert during the period.
According to the department, the system is expected to affect almost all districts of Nepal, with the exception of six districts from eastern Nepal to Sudurpaschim Province. Moderate rainfall is possible across most parts of the country.
The low-pressure area that initially developed over the northern Andaman Sea and surrounding areas has now moved toward the central Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to strengthen further into a well-marked low-pressure area and move west-northwestward.
It is forecast to move inland near the coastal areas of southern Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh in India on Wednesday.
If the system continues to move through the Bay of Bengal, the World Meteorological Organization has projected that it could develop into the largest cyclone of the year in the Indian Ocean region. Bangladesh has reportedly proposed the name “Arnab” for the cyclone.
Preparations Underway
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has instructed district administration offices across the country to begin preparations and remain alert, according to its spokesperson Shanti Mahat.
As part of the preparations, the authority’s monsoon response command post has already held two meetings. Officials from local governments in potentially affected areas, as well as representatives from the Department of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, have been briefed about the potential cyclone and asked to take necessary precautionary measures.
Another meeting of the command post was held on Tuesday to discuss additional preparations and the possible impacts of the weather system.
Authorities have also issued warnings for the high Himalayan areas, where heavy snowfall is possible. Tourists who have travelled to the mountains for trekking and mountaineering have been advised to remain in safe locations and avoid unnecessary movement.
The authorities have urged people to avoid travelling from September 25 onward as much as possible and to check weather conditions carefully before undertaking any journey.
Preparations have also begun in various districts to minimize the possible impact of the cyclone. In Dhanusha, Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Luitel said local governments had been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in areas along riverbanks.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the developing weather system and have urged residents, travellers and local governments to remain prepared as its likely path and intensity become clearer.
