Dust storms bring muddy rains in Nepal

Kathmandu valley and some other parts of Nepal briefly experienced rain that contained noticeable amount of particles of sand and dust last night, The Himalayan Times reported on June 17, 2018.

The showers left behind large amounts of residue on vehicles and windowpanes of houses, and soiled clothes of pedestrians in Kathmandu after the water evaporated.

So what caused this muddy rain?

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division’s special weather report, the strong dust storm blowing across the desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan for the past few days gradually travelled over the Indo-Gangetic plains to enter the atmosphere of Nepal due to the westerly winds, resulting in muddy rain.

"The shift in direction of dust storm with rain carrying clouds caused higher concentration of dust in the rain. The precipitation mixed with dust and dirt particles makes raindrops muddy," adds the report.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division has forecast more mud rain in parts of the country for a few days, as dust storm continues to blow across Rajasthan desert and is advancing towards the eastern region of Nepal.

Weathermen said dirty rain was neither a rare event nor a dangerous weather phenomenon.

"Dust particles are likely to affect the atmosphere of Nepal and cause mud showers until the monsoon gets active and spreads to the western region," the report adds.