Chhimi Dema  

The cloudy weather with light rain in parts of the country is likely to continue for a week, according to forecast of the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM).

Only if the western disturbance becomes strong, could there be moisture feed and drop in the temperature, due to which Bhutan could experience snowfall in the coming days.

“Currently, the western disturbance is weak over Bhutan and there is no moisture feed,” according to the weather report from the centre.




Moisture feed is either from the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal as in the snowfall events in the past three years.

NCHM reported that the current cloudy weather conditions across the country with light rain or snow in isolated parts of the country is due to the western disturbance.

Western disturbance is an extratropical (outside the tropics) storm that originates from the Mediterranean region which embeds with the westerly winds resulting in winter precipitation over the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent and eastern Himalayan region.




The precipitation over the eastern Himalayan including Bhutan largely depends on moisture and strength of the westerly wind.

NCHM reported that currently, the western disturbance is strong over the Western Himalayas such as Jammu, Kashmir, and Western Nepal, and weak over the Eastern Himalayas.

“However, due to the western disturbance, there is a low-pressure system over Bhutan,” the NCHM stated.

Low-pressure areas are commonly associated with inclement weather (such as cloudy, windy, with possible rain or storms), while high-pressure areas are associated with lighter winds and clear skies.




NCHM forecast cloudy weather with light rain in parts of the country in the coming five days.

Today, the northern parts (Gasa), high-altitude areas (parts of Bumthang) and passes of the country could experience light rain or snowfall.

The same weather is expected to continue until February 15.

NCHM meteorological stations recorded light rain in Gasa, Bumthang, Trongsa, Tsirang, Dagana, Zhemgang, Kanglung, Mongar, Trashiyangtse, Lhuentse, Sibsoo, Pemagatshel, and Phuentsholing from February 6 to 8.

Light snow was observed in parts of Gasa, high-altitude areas, and passes.