Bhutan is likely to experience a slightly hotter summer this year. The country is expected to receive lesser rainfall than the normal level from June to September this year. This is according to the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology, NCHM’s outlook for precipitation and temperature for this summer. The normal temperature and rainfall are the average temperature and rainfall recorded over the last 26 years.
The NCHM presented its forecast to officials from various stakeholders during the 9th National Climate Outlook Forum in the capital today.
“This year we can see that ENSO (the El Niño-Southern Oscillation) is in the state of El Niño. So, the sea service temperatures are hotter than usual, and analyzing the effect this has on monsoon, it actually decreases rainfall values and that is why this year we consider that rainfall will be slightly lower than usual,” said Dechen Lhamo Gyeltshen, Meteorology Officer from NCHM.
The astrological outlook from Pangrizampa College for Astrology was also presented at the forum. It has similar predictions. However, it cautioned against the risk of fire and wind disasters this year.
“While comparing our findings with the forecast of NCHM, it is almost the same. When we compare the state of fire and wind disasters and the harvest, it is almost 90 per cent similar,” said Karma Dendup, Astrologer.
The average accumulated rainfall from June to September last year was 767 millimetres and the average temperature was around 22 degrees Celsius.
The centre prepares the forecast annually with inputs from global and regional prediction centres and national climate data.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Kipchu
