KATHMANDU:  Nepal has recorded its highest pre-monsoon rainfall in 45 years during this year’s pre-monsoon period.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the country measured an average of 339.77 millimeters (mm) of rainfall during this period.

This figures out to 145.5% of the normal average rainfall of 226.3 mm.

Sanjib Adhikari, a meteorologist at the department, explained that the excessive rainfall during the pre-monsoon season was driven by the activation of western low-pressure systems and local winds, combined with extreme heat.

Data released by the department confirms that the 339.77 mm of rainfall in 2026 stands as the highest ever recorded for a pre-monsoon period.

Previously, the record was held by the year 1990 with 331.40 mm of rainfall.

Historical records show other high-rainfall pre-monsoon years in 2000 (323.19 mm), 2021 (317.88 mm), and 2020 (315.78 mm). The department noted that this year’s rainfall surpassed all of those previous records.

The department added that the significantly higher-than-average pre-monsoon rainfall could be an indication of shifts in the climate system.

During this period, there was also a noticeable increase in extreme weather events across various regions of the country, including lightning strikes, strong winds, hail, and heavy downpours.

According to officials, this year’s pre-monsoon rain is not just the highest since 1990, but stands as the highest ever recorded in the country’s available historical archives.